"*Ahem* Helping him with something" Elise coughs and nods towards Al.
Alþórel pulls out a book and starts to build his recipe, adding sniffs and snatches of this powder and that to a small bowl. As he goes he mutters signs and incantations on top of it.
The flutist nods as the two of them starts dancing and begins to play a merry tune. The crowd focus on the pair dancing clapping along to the beat.
Elise eagerly looked over Al's shoulder as he worked, making herself "useful". Magic was something she needed to know about if she were to face a Linnorm, but her expertise of the subject was woefully lacking. Besides - I heard many wonderful things about these "fireworks"!
Nethan was about the say something before he was pulled into the dance but he must admit, he does not mind one bit dancing with Amelia. He relaxes into the dance and smiles cordially while he dances with her.
It has been a while since he has dance with Amelia and must be a little under practice. After all, years of mental and physical training without much socialization take their toll on social skills. As long as he does not step on any toes, perhaps people will not notice is plight and suffering?
Nethan's face turns a little red because of his current lack of dancing grace.
Some of the crowd chuckle at the ineptness of the dance but clap along to the beat and give some cheers of encouragement. The spirits seem very high for this festival, whatever it could be.
The captain gives Al a nudge and whispers to him. "So what's the plan here, do I sneak in now or you cooking up something in that book of yours?"
The tune the flutists play begins to slowly creep up in tempo, the claps get slightly faster too. The crowd begins to occasionally twirl with the rhythm of the music. It seems that frolicking and dancing has come from the Elven roots of the race, that much can be seen.
"Do it now, if you can..."
Pressed for time Alþórel lets memories of another time fill his mind. His fingers dance as if with as will of their own.
With a whoomph the first firework, a glorious red starburst, fills the sky.
A few seconds later a yellow explodes. Then a blue, then a yellow, then a green, then a white, then finally a yellow again.
The captain begins to creep in behind the platform, crouched down he sets the stone ready to look at where the next triangulation point. As he does the firework sound of the fireworks draw the crowds attention. A small sigh of awe erupting from the masses. The fireworks give the captain enough time to get the pinpoint and retract the stone into his garb.
Elise looks up at the sky and grins. They were worth the hype!
Nethan nods, "Yes, it is time to stop dancing before I embarrass myself and perhaps you even more. I am going to have to practice some more." Nethan smiles and follows Amelia out of the crowd.
Dreyyn, already itching to leave, dashed alongside the others.
The group heads out to the final triangulation point. No-one seems to give them any mind with their festive garb on as they walk through the town. Some people cheerfully ask how the Celebration to the Wyrm is going as you pass them.
The last district for the triangulation point is the district called the Azure eye. As the group approaches they quickly figure out why. There is are several tall buildings in the district but they see a place that is open. The area that is open is guarded by several Eldred flying on their spears and some walking on the ground. However the group can clearly see a giant Azure dome in that area.
On top of one of the buildings next to the plaza housing the Azure dome would likely suffice for the final point. The guards seem to only be barring entrance to the plaza itself, if the party ventures there they are turned away. Though the guards might think it suspicious if the party begins climbing a building in plain sight.
As the party begins to formulate a plan a small Eldred crowd passes through, they look to be heading towards the bright side as they too are in festive garb. As they do however Elise feels someone brush quite heavily past her, and her pockets feel heavier. Searching her person she finds a small note with a seal on it. The seal has a large stylish symbol etched into it. Opening it, it reads: Careful, those with sharper eyes have found their prey. Watch your back. Your friend, -Churtle
"Hmph. It seems as if our kobold friend is sprouting dire warnings again." She holds up the note for the other to see, before mashing it back in her pockets. "I don't suppose any of those buildings are open to the public?"
"Well. Climb a building without being seen by guards. An interesting challenge, yes? Dreynn? I'm sure you have a plan? Elise's plan of blending in at the carnival was quite successful."
"Nethan, would you mind looking for any audience we might have picked up?"
Instead of taking Alþórel a gleam of inspiration takes to Caladran's eye. "Wait a see-er? So you can predict results, yea? So you should be good at gambling?!" He seems happy at his realization. "Could you help me with some games then, it'll only be a bit to make back the money!"
"Yes. I could. But I won't. You cannot lean on another to overcome your Fate. Only your own strength could do it. If you lack that strength, then all my efforts would merely be blowing against the wind."
He considers, thoughtfully"All I could do is kill you here, now, as painlessly as I can. That would snip the thread of Fate before it is woven."
"A plan? No. While i could get up there easily enough, doing so without being seen isn't likely. Amelia's plan is sound, if they don't think we are too old to be playing with kites. Unless we are getting a kite for a child..."
"I've always wanted a kite... Did you know, back home we call both kites and dragons drake? The spectacle when a local boy said he seen a 'Red Dragon' soaring above the threes - it turned out to be a simple handkerchief lost to the wind!"
Elise looks around and thinks back on the carnival they just left to try and remember any light or flyable object. But with a thoughtful look she instead opens her backpack and pulls out a scarf from her hot-weather outfit.
"Dreyyn, if a fair lady dropped her scarf and the wind caught it - surly you would fetch it for her?"
With a grin she hands the cloth to Nathan and Al.
"I'm sure one of you can be the wind on this one?"
Alþórel looks to Nethan
Caladran's face suddenly fills with dread. "Euh come now I don't have to die, I can give up gambling, if it means you won't hurt me.. eh heh... fair trade yes?" Sweat drops glistening from his forehead.
Amelia looks around and spots a few left over canvas in an alley, there is also a discarded banner for the parade, that is on a pair of sticks. Seems it could be fashioned into something. A barrel, the wood likely could be used for something if you cut it up enough.
Nethan looks to Al then everyone else, "Yes I will stand guard and I also think if someone climbs up alone without a distraction, they will be spotted. I like the kite distraction idea or some sort of distraction to obfuscate our real intent. If the kite distraction does not work, we need something more aggressive that will surely catch people's attention including the guards"
"That remains, as it has always been, your decision entirely."
"I am ready."
Elise gives a friendly laugh and hands the scarf to Amelia. "Now we only have to get it up there! ...Anyone got a steady aim with their bow?..."
Amelia lends a short bow from the captain if no one else has one she takes aims and fires when the guards aren't looking, managing to plant it near the top of the building in question.
"Well when my other decision is die by your hand that isn't much of a choice now is it? Of course I'd prefer to live" He replies, not quite getting the point of why Al said he'd cut out the middle man.
While Amelia "places" the scarf, Elise drags Al to the side. To truly sell the ruse, the guards would have to understand her. Which would be easy since they just would need to hear her ask Dreyyn. Sadly she didn't speak elven - so she had to ask the only elf she knew.
----------------------------------------------------
When the scene was set, Elise stepped up and giggled girlishly - most un-Elise-like. She batted her eyelashes at Dreyyn and pointed up towards the scarf.
[broken Elvish]"My scarf! If only there was someone strong and handsome that could fetch it for me ...."[/broken Elvish]
Hopefully neither Al's nor the guards ears started bleeding after she mangled their language like that!
Dreyyn not knowing elven but knowing what the plan was for Elise to ape, sprung into action. He plotted out a path of things to jump from one to another to get him to the top.
The guards look over to the 'couple' then look up to the 'scarf' that has flown up to the roof. They exchange a few words and chuckle. They don't seem too concerned at Dreyyn scaling a building to fetch the 'scarf'. They seem to shrug it off and return to their duties.
Once Dreyyn reaches the top he let's the stone do its work while he retrieves the 'scarf'. Looking over he does see the Azure's eye in its full glory, it looks like some sort of beacon, every so often he can see a light pulse from underneath the dome that seems to project something out the top. As it finishes he goes to retrieve the stone but he hears the whistle of an arrow. It skims past his face and lands next to the stone. Looking around none of the aerial guards seem to be present, something is amiss. The arrow came from behind him, in the building next to the one he's on.
Most of the party sees the arrow as it leaves a nearby window. The group is unsure if the shooter missed or if it was a warning of some kind.
Elise makes sure to look suitably impressed as Dreyyn quickly scales the tower. She even makes a point of gasping as he makes some of the more daring leaps. In reality, she was a hard time containing herself from laughing at the absurdity of their sketch - and the situation at large. Here I am - in a foreign world, swooning at comrades as he scales the wall of a house to fetch my scarf!
She snaps out of her good mood the instant the arrow streaks across the sky. After quickly checking that Dreyyn didn't fall she turned her attention to the building with the window - searching for a way in. Inside the long sleeves of her robe, her hands curled into fists.
"This must be what the kobold warned us about ... You don't suppose the guards will buy the scarf trick again?" she muttered
The building nearby does have doors and windows on the bottom floor. There doesn't seem to be any guards at the doors to the building however, they look to be more concerned with the Azure Eye. The guards patrolling the sky aren't there anymore so it looks like the group can easily enter the building without drawing attention.
Dreyyn takes a full defense action. (gives +6 AC due to his outstanding acrobatics)
Nethan makes sure his sword is activated and activates his inertial armor with a power point, "Not sure if it is the guards? After all, I do not hear an alarm and the shooter missed. I would think a trained soldier would have hit Dreyyn instead of missing. I am ready when you are."
"Or, it could be a warning shot? So we should go in ready but not necessarily kill the shooter at first sight."
"If they want to warn us, they should have the guts to do so face-to-face. Now I just feel like grabbing their guts by myself."
To underline her statement she readies her sword and shield, anticipating that her poleaxe might be a bit unwieldy for indoors combat. As she did she set course for the door they assumed lead to the window - one way or another.
Nethan smiles and shakes his head, "Well you may want to wrench out some guts by yourself, but I am going with you." Nethan takes a step to take the lead inside.
Dreyyn prepares himself for another arrow, the others bust down the door and see that there is no-one on the ground floor. The ground floor just holds a foyer and a staircase up. However the group can see a hastily prepared trip wire trap at the foot of the stairs with another on a few steps up in the path of where a jump would take you.
Another arrow flies but Dreyyn is more than ready to swing out the way as it strikes the building. There is a long pause and Dreyyn doesn't hear another arrow being drawn, he thinks perhaps the shooter has heard his friends enter the building.
Nethan looks at the trip wire and in a low voice, "Amelia, can you make sure there are no traps after the trip wire? Obviously, we probably can step over it. It is the other side I worry about."
Also in a low voice, Alþórel agrees
"I'm afraid I'm little use to you in here Amelia, every glimpse of the future I have suggests I should stay well back."
Looking at the group
"It is up to you now."