At the gate, she sees the guards at the checkpoint. "Oh, they're looking for us, huh? Let's avoid a brawl, right? I don't like lying, but... meh."
She talks to the guards at the checkpoint.
"What happened?" asks the guard looking in the direction of the Spotted Wolf.
Scarlet's answer comes out as the rough equivalent of: "Uh, had a slight weapons malfunction. But, uh, everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here, now, thank you. How are you?"
The guard's eyes narrow to slits within the slits of his helmet. His reply is the rough equivalent of "What's your operating number?"
"Bar Brawl at the Spotted Wolf. Someone made fun of someone's mother, something about a Sunday Afternoon. I didn't pay much attention until someone tried to smash my face in."
"Once the violence erupted, me and my friends got out of there as soon as we could. Sorry I don't have more details than that."
(beat)
"Are we good to go now?"
Illthir sighs a bit as the poor candy started to cry. It would have been so much easier if they could understand eachother so things like this didn't happen. Luckily Scarlet seemed to solve it quickly!
"Let's see if we can't intercept Far-Walker. And get our errands done quickly!" she states to her team, though perhaps it was a bit obvious. But it felt better to have said it - first step to completing it was done already!
"Murder! Ser Tepid has been killed!" shouts someone from behind the queue at the gate. A trio of men the party recognize from the Spotted Wolf rush to the head of the line and engage the guardsman questioning Scarlet.
In the commotion a new guard moves to the fore and waves Scarlet, Angus, Arbalasti, Alia, Zokon, and Erevenywg through. Leaving the second group to wait their turn in line two people back.
Meanwhile, a few of the guards make their way to the Spotted Wolf.
"You don't look like locals." the guard says Illthir, Numalar, Serena, as they approach the gate.
After a quick shopping trip (I assume?) and fetching their horses, though not their cleric (whom hopefully would find them somehow!) Illthir contemplates the days events. She had hoped the stay in the city had been more restful. She would have loved to play somewhere that wasn't a pile of dirt too. Ah well!
---
"Oh? No, we just had some questions at the temples." With a small blush she added. "It was a private one, but I'm sure the priestess of the wasp would vouch for us. They were ... Very helpful."
Illithir, Numalar and Serena bluff their way past the gate guards and into the town.
After a quick shopping trip (I assume?)
"We need to leave as soon as possible. The Lord-Mayor fears that Angus and Scarlet are going to hire the mercenaries for a job he doesn't want done. I suspect Hotspur was not there on his own, and the job the Lord-Mayor doesn't want done is cleaning out the bandits. I don't know how Raston Selline knew of our plans, but I believe he does. I didn't press him for details - worried I would compromise what I knew - but it seemed he was suspicious of me and of our group."
"That doesn't sound too good. Explains why there were thugs looking for them at the bar ..." Illthir felt that there might be a good conspiracy story coming up. Now that was really one of the sagas she'd prefer to remain outside of, all that mess usually have collateral, but too late for that now! "So we should hurry before they go from asking to demanding?"
Scarlet asks Angus where they should go next.
"Where is everyone? Did they get stopped at the gate?"
Durgan replies to Illthir. "I think our safest bet is to leave tonight. If we really want those supplies, we can get them and leave in the morning. If questioned, we can honestly say that those we sought to hire were more trouble than they were worth. It is my hope that the Lord-Mayor will be content with denying us the mercenaries, and not seek to thwart our efforts any further."
Scarlet asks Angus where they should go next.
"Where is everyone? Did they get stopped at the gate?"
"They got it afair th' lockdoon. They're hauld up in a farm jist eest ay toon."
"Hmm. Let's see which stores that are still open. Or open-ish at least. Then get the heck out of here tonight!"
---Horse Trader---
*Knock-knock* Illthir tapped the door and put on her most distressed look. "Oh hello I'm terribly sorry for the late hour but it is really an emergency! You see I'm so terribly late for my aunt's wedding and I really do need a horse - here I already have enough gold to pay for it!"
--- Wainwright ---
*Knock!!* "Ahem. Official business! The department of medium wagons immediately needs to purchase a light wagon to compare to their standard stock!"
--- Scribe Depot ---
*Cough* "Lord Pomfrey require twenty arks of the finnest vellum for his latest project; the world's biggest paper crane."
--- Wondrous Item Mart ---
"Good evening! We have urgent need of some fine reagents and need them now! We'll even pay for the expident handling fee ..."
--- Wild Card Store ---
"Anything we missed?"
|
---Horse Trader---
--- Wainwright ---
--- Scribe Depot ---
Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
*Cough* "Lord Pomfrey require twenty arks of the finnest vellum for his latest project; the world's biggest paper crane."
"Yes, he's quite mad, you see. Liable to start executing his retainers if he doesn't get his way. Sometimes we can calm him down, but it's best to just get him what he wants."
--- Wondrous Item Mart ---
Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
"Good evening! We have urgent need of some fine reagents and need them now! We'll even pay for the expident handling fee ..."
"His lordship's project is quite overdue and I'm afraid we can't wait any longer. But you should know that the Lord-Mayor will remember those who were able to act quickly to provide assistance in times of crisis." Numalar winks at the merchant knowingly.
--- Wild Card Store ---
Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
"Anything we missed?"
"We should try to sell off what equipment we can that we don't need. Durgan, were you able to find any reputable merchant contacts that would buy them?"
"Excuse me, master merchant. We are need of some gemstones; tonight is the celebration of the Sky-Voyage of the Mother of Butterflies. It celebrates the creation of the Milky Way, though I'm sure that you knew that. We need an offering that will please Desna with its beauty and value. Pickpockets made off with our original offering, so perhaps you would take these magical items in trade."
Zokon sneaks up to get a better look and see what is happening at the gates, battlements and guardhouse, to see if there's a way out?
The gates seem closed and there is hardly anyone about besides the city guardsmen.
A few hours pass and nothing changes much at the gates except that a few groups of soldiers on horseback leave through them (after which time the gates are shut again), and that the shopping side of party has time to complete their errands and meet up with the party watching the gates.
"Two options wait or find a way out now?" Zokon says to the full group
"Well, maybe if we ask nicely *and* have a good unrelated reason?" Illthir suggests cautiously. Engaging and lying to the guards seemed risky, but if the mayor was after them, so did remaining.
"Well, if you can think of a good reason, we should go for it. I'm no good with authority." Scarlet crosses her arms. "We need some good reason to be let out early. Maybe we're advance inspectors?"
"We cannae bide aroond haur oan th' causey. They ur lookin' fur us tay, ye ken."
"We can say we have concluded our business and are leaving at night because we could not find lodgings to our satisfaction. That is technically true, the problem being that the lodgings are all in a town run by a man who seeks to thwart us. If Raston Selline merely wants us gone without the mercenaries, then leaving might not pose a problem."
"How far are we willing to go to be able to leave? If the guards try and stop us and we think we can take them.. do we?" Zokon says with a tone of finality and an expression of utter seriousness.
|
|
"I'd rather not harm the guards if I can help it. I can throe three more glitterdust spells which can blind an enemy but otherwise don't harm them."
"We do have a scroll that can render someone invisible for about three minutes. And another that would create a cloud of mist."
"Perhaps one of us can move up and try to open the gate while invisible. If they are spotted I could start shooting glitterdust and then when we are able to bring the wagon up we can use the mist to cover our escape."
"Guysh!" Shouts a tipsy nobleman from behind the clustered group. "What are we hiding from!?"
"The vampires.. they ate a friend of mine it was terrifying, if you run quickly the guards might save you." Zokon says in mock terror
Seeing the new arrival, Durgan rolls his eyes but says nothing.
"Hmhm." They really hadn't gotten any stellar ideas as for leaving, except maybe dust and run for it. And that would probably have *uh* consequences. She'd like to be able to visit Mivon again some day! But maybe there was room for some poorly thought out ideas?
"Ah, nothing my lord. It's just a dumb bet..." Illthir called back at noble, unless he was moved by the tales of vampires of course! She took a moment to size him up, trying to figure out what house he belonged to and recall if they had any rivals. "Lord *mumblemuble* challenged us to a race. But the slimeball left before the gates closed and now he'll have the entire night on us! Gah! I wish there were some way we could catch up and stick it to him. If only someone could tell the guards to let us out ..."
A small crowd of courtiers wander into the alleyway after the tipsy noble bringing the "hidden" congregation to twenty travelers, party-goers, and an assortment of draft animals, supplies and a cart.
Outside a large group of guards muster before the gates. Their officer steps smartly out, and begins sorting them into search parties.
"The vampires.. they ate a friend of mine it was terrifying, if you run quickly the guards might save you." Zokon says in mock terror
"Vampires? Good Gorum! You've been reading the copper dreadfuls, haven't you? This isn't Ushtalav you know."
"Ah, nothing my lord. It's just a dumb bet..." Illthir called back at noble, unless he was moved by the tales of vampires of course! She took a moment to size him up, trying to figure out what house he belonged to and recall if they had any rivals. "Lord *{Westolv}* challenged us to a race. But the slimeball left before the gates closed and now he'll have the entire night on us! Gah! I wish there were some way we could catch up and stick it to him. If only someone could tell the guards to let us out ..."
"'Westolv'! I'll have you know that I- I am a man not some stripling child!" He shouts in protest.
"Oh you- He points to the correct Illthir. "You can't fool me you little white minx! You're hiding from my brother the 'Tyrant', aren't you? Such a naughty, sneaky little minx. I have a burrow nearb-" He leans forward to kiss the incorrect Illthir, nearly falls over, and straightens up again.
He squints over the correct Illthir's shoulder at Abalasti. "Shay! Weren't you at the castle thish evening? Hm?" He staggers toward the suddenly wary dwarf who begins making a low growling noise in the back of his throat.
"Illthir, may I present Lord Lloutz Muniair, Baron of Landfall and half-brother to Raston Selline. Lord Muniair, this is Illthir. Perhaps a gentleman of your considerable influence could assist her. And, my Lord, I was the one who was at the castle. Durgan Far-Walker, priest of Abadar."
Loutz rubs his eyes in astonishment over the fact that Abalasti is not the banker.
"An easy mistake, my Lord. And, yes, you are correct, I believe your half-brother may wish to pursue Illthir and she doesn't want that. So we are leaving."
Technically true, thinks the dwarf, though our odds are better if he misinterprets the nature of this pursuit.
"Perhaps if you can help her, she can share a drink with you next time we are in Landfall."
"Ah yes, it would by my *uh* pleasure." Illthir nods and hopes Durgan's gambit will work. And that the Baron wouldn't mind her trying to pull a fast one. Or another one.
Hmm. If I powder up Alia I wonder if he'd notice? Truth to be told, Illthir didn't have much hope for that plan. For once the elf might be hard to convince. Maybe Erevenywg? Now that would be something to see!
"Vampires? Good Gorum! You've been reading the copper dreadfuls, haven't you? This isn't Ushtalav you know."
"Well they are pretty good... well done in not falling for my ruse."
Zokon tries to catch Illthir eye to give her the thumbs up
"Maybe my lord we could accompany your party?." Zokon asks
"Ah yes, it would by my *uh* pleasure." Illthir nods and hopes Durgan's gambit will work. And that the Baron wouldn't mind her trying to pull a fast one. Or another one.
"Well certainly. Come fair minx. Fear not my half-kin. In my arms you will find the strength needed to protect you."
"Maybe my lord we could accompany your party?." Zokon asks
"What? Do I look like I'm made of strength? There's smarts enough too in my frame." Lloutz says searching his pockets for something.
"And while two is company-" he says looking over at Serena, and Alia. "And three or four is quite alright, a dozen is definitely a crowd. Right out in point of fact."
He stops his search, and looks momentarily more sober.
"Wait! Raston's looking for you too isn't he? Yes. Don't deny it. What ish it? Smuggling? Murder? I hear there was a murder down in the Wash. Was that you all? If I might be so bold slayer, who was it that you killed? It might help or hurt your chances with me, depending upon my opinion of the person."
Zokon looks perplexed "Umm no not me, we have committed no crimes that we know of thus we are trying to sneak out and remain lawful folk rather cut our way out if it comes down to it, avoiding a posse would be difficult." he says by way of reply
"We ain't killed no one." Scarlet crosses her arms. "We just needto get outta here. Can you help, or not?"
Zokon looks perplexed "Umm no not me, we have committed no crimes that we know of thus we are trying to sneak out and remain lawful folk rather cut our way out if it comes down to it, avoiding a posse would be difficult." he says by way of reply
"'Lawful folk'--I love this guy!" Lloutz says playfully punching Zokon repeatedly in the bicep.
"We ain't killed no one." Scarlet crosses her arms. "We just needto get outta here. Can you help, or not?"
"Hm? Oh, I know some people who can get you out of town, but they don't come cheap and they're sher-certainly not lawful."
"Yes, I believe it would annoy your brother if you were to aid us. I am most sorry for putting you in this difficult position, Lord Lloutz."
"These 'friends' of yours. Who are they?" Serena asks casually, though her tone makes it clear that she does not trust the nobleman.
"No need for long introductions Lord Muniair, I am already familiar with some of these people." says a broad grin from among the assembled courtiers. The grin has a hood on. The hood pulls back to address Serena. "My friends call me Needles."
"You need a way out of the city. I can provide that for the cost of a small favor." The grin never leaves Needles' mouth region as he speaks even to travel up to his glassy manic eyes.
"Oi. We met before." Scarlet recognizes the face. "You almost sent us on a wild goose chase against Bella and Vernon." She peers closely at Needles.
"What's yer favor? I ain't killing no one..."
This guy... is up to no good.
"My friends and I have a private way out of the city, but there's a problem a local swamp beast has climbed into it and refuses to leave. I seem to recall your group has a sort of facility for this sort of thing."
Serena cracks her knuckles unconsciously, listening intently.
Zokon avoids a few of the punches and uses studied target on punchy.
"How big is it and is a bow any good down there?" Zokon asks hopefully.
"'Down there'? Good. You've guessed it. You'll have to tell me sewer ranger*. I certainly hope it is your favored terrain." The grin gets grinnier. "So you in or not?"