Ashivla says, "Ah, yes. I was hoping to see what you thought of some of the regulars that come in here, I presume every night. A large human and a halfling. Have you met them, and do they stay here? They look like interesting people. I might like to hire them."
She gives the description she was given of the two, then listens intently for the woman's reply amidst the morning racket of meals being served and eaten.
___
Depending on what she says, Ashivla takes her leave as soon as possible and joins the others for breakfast. She says, trying to keep things general so as to avoid eavesdroppers, "Yes, I think the element of surprise is a good advantage. I think Amari and I could conjure a way to get a scroll out of someone's hands."
She flexes her nimble fingers a few times to make the point.
The woman replies without pausing from slicing her bread.
Yes they come here often. They enjoy our Araq. It is very good. I do not know them well as I am rarely here in the evenings.
She continues her work, trying to be polite to a customer but more comfortable with her accustomed role.
+++ Breakfast time +++
After nodding a welcome at everyone, he will make the widely-know sign for <Found something>, then signs Ashivla that he probably found the exit of their tunnel.
At the matter of surprise he nods in between two bites, then adds a couple of signs, interrupted by bites and drinking.
<Have we a way to coordinate ... over long distance?
We could attack ... from the roof ... And the tunnel.
If we can coordinate ... The attack ...
And come at them ... From both retreat routes ...
It should enhance ... The element of surprise ... Even further.
But if we cannot communicate ... We shouldn't split ...
In such a crucial moment... I'd be in favor ...
Of taking the tunnels ... And lock the rooftop ...
Since not everyone is as stealthy as us.
But we should scout ... The tunnels first.
Maybe they are trapped.>
The woman glances up from her work at Amari. She turns to Ashivla
Is he deaf? He signs and does not speak. My daughter is deaf and signs but I have not yet learned it well. He said something about a roof and far? Are you looking to purchase property?
She signs back to Amari somewhat clumsily.
<Hello. Welcome to my food place.>
You are positive that she is sincere and really doesn't know Kelesh sign language very well.
At first Amari is shocked and thinks about the possibility that the woman may have read everything ... But she seems to be honest and the crude signs confirms his impression.
He pledges to himself to be more careful in the future.
He will signs back to the woman, slowly and only using the most basic signs that are widely used in many forms of sign language.
<Hello, woman.
Your food is good.
I am not deft.
My people don't talk but understand.>
Ashivla says, "Yes, as he signed, he's not deaf. It's just something he requires of himself. But we are looking around at the property here. What about that warehouse down the road a bit? Is it occupied? It's a very good location."
She smiles at Amari and turns to Ashivla.
Yes I believe that is where the human and halfling work. It is a good location if you say. I know little of trade.
She looks at you somewhat confused.
My husband said you were caravan guards. But you are looking to purchase a building? Do you work with rare goods, perhaps?
Ashivla shrugs. "Yes, a bit of both. But we've been looking for a way into the caravan business for awhile, not just as hired muscle, you know, but actual partners. A business of our own. With a warehouse, we could do just that."
The woman smiles.
Yes, that would be good. I remember when my husband was a lowly servant but he saved and saved for so many years to buy this place. Then he felt like a real man with his own business. You should do this too. Do you have enough saved?
The breakfast crowd is thinning as the time approaches mid-morning.
She shrugs again. "Honestly, I don't know. You know how it goes. You barter and barter for something and it does not happen, and then how much time is that out of your life? Sometimes I say let the Dawnflower decide, and I go about my business. If it is meant to be, it will be."
"Thank you for the conversation. If you see the big human and the halfling, please let me know, send a boy to find me if you can."
The woman nods sympathetically as you speak of your financial concerns. She agrees to send a boy to you but only asks where the boy will find you before you go.
Before you head out, you go back to your room to grab some of your things.
There's a small shuffling noise coming from your room.
Lo'Laan stops before he reaches the door and grabs his weapon. He points to Ashlvla and Amari then at the door as he holds position.
"I'll probably be around the market today," Ashivla says to the woman before she takes her leave.
___
Ashivla halts at the door when Lo'Laan signals her. Her eyes dart from her teammate to the door. She doesn't hear anything, but she knows from long sessions in training with him that he's rarely wrong on such things.
She nods. She draws her sap to show the nonlethal approach. Signs to Amari, <Someone in our rooms. Capture if possible. Could be nothing, could be everything.>
When everyone is poised and ready, coiled like a deadly spring behind the door, she will push through with all the force and speed she can muster.
Drakar bares his teeth at the woman in a what could be generously interpreted as a smile, and offers, "I'm sorry about my behavior last night, by the way. Your drink was excellent, and I had too much."
Heading upstairs, he looks at the door excitedly, when he sees the others standing around it being suspiciously quiet and armed. He lowers his shoulder, and points to it, and then the door, then makes and exploding motion with his hands, before punching the air a bunch of times, and placing his hand on his hips, with the same terrifying "smile", nodding his head eagerly.
<Maybe they just clean the rooms?
Better safe than sorry though.>
Amari, like Drakar, don't draw a weapon (he actually don't have one with him at the moment), but simply falls into a combat stance, fists half-raised and ready.
When they storm in, he will make sure to check the area behind the door, letting the others passing by.
Drakar crashes through the somewhat flimsy locked door. You all see a broad-shouldered, heavily scarred man in his early thirties caught in the act of looking through your belongings.
As he turns to look at you, you see he is holding your orders in one hand and some of your gold in his other hand.
Ashivla bursts into action, moving forward so as not to interrupt a charge lane.
"You're dead," she whispers to the man.
Lo'Laan steps forward and arcs his Glaive down onto the burly intruder with practiced ease.
---
Serenity jumps forward protectively in front of Lo'Laan and growls at the intruder.
Lo'Laan's glaive barely manages to get a solid blow on the man's light helmet with a loud thump. The man staggers but does not fall.
He is one of them. He must not escape!
Amari will squeeze past the Drake, taking up a position right beside the door, trying looking to block any possible escape route of the theft.
With a quick step, Amari will take the position in the door, blocking all possible escape routes for the theft.
Drakar moves up and hurls a scaly fist at the thief but can't quite connect.
The theif drops the gold and paper and starts reaching for a dagger on his belt.
Amari trusts his companions to take one enemy down, if he stays to fight.
He is more concerned with the possibility of an escape - or reinforcements coming in from behind.
After a quick look-around, Amari will stay at the door, prepared to get in the mans way should he try to escape after all.
Ashivla hefts her sap and attempts to knock the thug over the head, drawing on her timeline to aid her.
A long hand outstretched toward something. Light? A chapel?
Ashivla barely manages to connect with the surprised thief, hitting him on the back of the head. He looks around nervously, seeking an escape.
Amari looks around carefully, paying little attention to potential trips, and hears the sounds of normal foot traffic outside the open window.
Lo'Laan and Serenity attempt to lay into their intruder but the chaos of the room prevents most of their attempts to do so.
Serenity brings the thug to the ground with a soft thump. Drakar swings at the prone figure
landing one solid blow. The fellow grunts and, in a panic, attempts to stand up.
But his choice proves foolish as the Shadows of Qadira put him down. Hard.
As soon as Amir sees, that the enemy will not escape them any time soon, he will close the door and will check the tavern for any suspicious person, then quickly get out on the street and do the same.
But before he leaves, he will click with his tongue to get Ashivlas attention and signs her:
<He had our orders and some gold in his hands as we entered. I'll check the tavern and street for people waiting on him. Maybe we must make our move soon.>
Amari sees only the normal foot traffic around the tavern. Nobody looks suspicious. The woman downstairs in the tavern inquires if anyone got hurt.
I heard a thump. Are you all well?
<We good>
"Someone get him tied up for now." Lo'Laan says before making his way to the door. He looks around for anything suspicious and closes the door for privacy.
After Lo'Laan confirms the intruder is secure he begins to rifle through his things. "Check your belongings make sure nothing is missing for now."
You find several of your valuables on the thief, especially gold. He has 89 gp, a dagger, and a chain shirt.
Drakar looks through his few belongings
He looks at the intruder, and suggests, We could interrogate him. Maybe that should be somebody else's doing, though.
Drakar looks out the window to see if the person had any accomplices waiting
Ashivla's normally cheery demeanor darkens. She grabs a length of rope from her pack and hands it to Lo'Laan. "You are the strongest among us Lo'Laan. Please tie him up."
After he's tied up she says, "If he starts to shout, knock him out again. We need to know what he knows, if he's a part of the smuggling ring. He's seen our orders, our faces. There's not many scenarios I can think of that leaves him alive after this. If we have to dispatch him, we should wait for night, slip the body out of the window and sneak it out of the city to rot in the desert where traitors of Qadira belong."
She then pulls out her waterskin and douses the face of the thief, attempting to wake him.
"Fair enough." Lo'Laan grunts before grabbing his rope and gets to work tying the man up.
"There's no guarantee that he took the time to read it as he was robbing us but I agree, if he does know what he should not then there is little we can do for him." The hunter says grimly.
Drakar peers around keenly, seeing no signs of accomplices.
The man comes to, gasping for air in surprise. He looks around in bewilderment. What is happening? he sputters. Where am I?
Lo'Laan gives the man a light slap to get his attention. "We'll be the ones asking the questions thief. I suggest you cooperate because one way or another you'll be spilling your guts. Understand?" He says with a growl.
The man recoils in fear, averting his gaze from Lo'Laan. In a shaking voice, he mutters
I'm so sorry. I was just looking for some gold. Didn't know...
Ashivla nods to Lo'Laan and then asks the man, "Tell us what you found in our belongings."
The man turns to face Ashivla with a broken expression on his face. I found gold and some other small things. But I didn't mean to read the papers. I barely even saw them! he pleads.
Amari will return to his comrades after the quick check of the street and tavern.
Just in time to hear the frightens answer of the thief.
While he was never a big fan of ... interrogation he was certain that it had to be done.
He will keep the man under close observation, keeping both eyes trained on his face, searching for tell-tale signs of lies or conceit.
Ashivla considers the man, his dress, his maneurisms. She looks to Amari and signs, <Deception?>
If this truly is just an unfortunate set of circumstances, I do pity him, but...
She turns back to the man, leans down to meet his eyes, takes a measured breath, before starting. "We're going to play a game, you and I, and all games have rules. This game, you gain points by telling me the truth. You lose points by lying. See the silent monk behind me? He's been trained to detect liars. He will know and inform me. Now, if you try and call out for help, or try and free yourself, you lose all your points and our game is over. Understand?
"Now, did anyone send you to this room to steal from us? And if so, who? Also, how did you get into our room? Did someone help you? One of the tavern staff?"
Summer. A mountain. Flies on dead eyes.
He replies
No one sent me! I climbed in through the window. It is easy to break those locks. I just wanted money...
You believe the man.
The muscled, black man with the mohawk keeps the man under close surveillance, not even diverting his scrutinizing gaze as he makes a single sing to Ashivla.
<Truth>
Lo'Laan shakes his head. "A fortune you did not earn, one undeserved. Had you chosen another path perhaps this error could have been avoided."
"What is it that you think we should do with you Mr. Thief?" The Half-Orc asks.
The would-be thief gulps in terror and tries to compose himself.
I must learn this lesson. Give me a strict beating so that I will never forget my mistake.
Amari will pat at Ashivla shoulder and sign:
<He is terrified.
We could recruit him to watch over enemy movement.
Pay him a few coins and keep him close at hand and I doubt he would give us away.
Maybe he proves useful after all.>
Ashivla looks at Amari, then flashes a smile at the man. "One point for you my friend."
She says, "What did you read? Tell us exactly what you know."