Miet happy just to visit nearby monuments while they all get ready
Uraisa will have a light dinner, but is entirely too nervous to nap. If Miet wants some company, she'd be happy to tag along and look at the monuments.
Miet happy to have her along.
Ellantera knows she won't sleep, so she asks to join the two monument-seekers, sharing her meager knowledge in hopes they will teach her more.
[b]"Whew, I'm much more comfortable, with only a couple of us. I am so nervous about our first mission. I'm afraid I'm going to mess something up. Have you either done anything like this,"[b] the Mage asks of the other two.
Head for the Eyes of the Hawk monument
The Eyes of the Hawk is a tall statue on the edge of a large plaza near the Irespan. The plaza and the statue both commemorate one of the most horrific and bizarre events in Magnimar's history: the invasion of terrible, spider-like creatures from within the Irespan itself. The statue shows 6 figures - two human men, identical twins who are throwing fire from their hands, a gnome woman with a bow, a half-orc woman with paired waraxes, and an elf man with rapier - fighting against a horde of spider-like beasts the size of ponies. The entire thing is about 25 feet tall, with the spider-things crawling up a spire toward the humanoid warriors battling at the top.
Knowledge History
"Well, it's certainly interesting, I suppose," Uraisa points out.
Kassandra walks around the docks and searches for her old Sczarni acquaintences in order to learn anything else about the rumored slavers which could help the group.
Knoledge arcana
Shiv returns and reports his findings to the group . Again cleaning his fingernails with one of the inn's forks he says, "Looks ta me like the alley door is most invitin'."
"So... what do we want to do? Catch these people, follow them, something else?"
"Did'ya check out the roof for access"? "Maybe we should split up and take them from several sides at once". "Wish we knew more about the place". "Think we could track down the former owner, or some former patrons"? "How about an approach by water".
Oscar puts down his small bear and wipes his hands. Perhaps we should get there a bit early and observe and see what's going on".
"Early is fine with me. Does anyone have a boat, was the first question from the mage when presented with a water approach.
Shiv gives Salt a nod, "I been askin' myself that same stuff. Did'nah want ta tip any creepers off by gettin' ta close. Showin' early is best and I plan on settin' up real nice and quiet on the roof." He rubs his chin in thought and spits, "That or take a short swim an come up from behind. Can any o' you lot make like river fishes with me?"
"You know I'm not great at it, but I'm passable without the armor. I'd rather be standing on dry land with a longsword near to hand, really. If we had a rowboat, I would row. We have enough people to watch all sides, right? How would we tell each other what we saw?"
Looking over the group and sensing general reluctance to get in the water, "I'll go myself. I don't need one o' ya lot flounderin' around makin' a fuss and makin' me drag yer sorry backsides half drown from the drink." Grunting to himself as if that's settled before continuing, "The way I see it, we're nah tryin' ta kill 'em. We're jus' tryin' ta figgur out if'n they grabbed the lass we're lookin' fer. We come from all sides and make sure they git they have no option but ta talk. I'll come from dockside, ya all can figgur out who else comes from what side."
"I could remove my armor and hold my own swimming, but if there is going to be fighting, I'd rather keep it on". "Let's watch them for a while and see how they come in and how many". "I'm for going there right now, and staking out a observation place".
Ellantera asks Shiv, "Was there an alley or a building across the way we could hide in while we watch?"
"How about we divide up and cover all three entrances?"
"Um, Ellantra, I might be able to help one group stay in contact with my group. I've got a spell that would let me communicate with someone with whispers over about 100' range.". Uraisa seemed a bit more comfortable talking about spells.
"Really? That would be useful! Do you have to know where they are, or does it just work when you think about them?"
"Actually, if we are together when I cast the spell, we can go about 100' away, and can still communicate, no matter where in that 100' they are," Uraisa beams.
Erwin is happy to go wherever he's needed, but he's not going to ruin his garments by swimming, and he's not much good at hiding either.
On a deserted street in Dockside, about half an hour before midnight, a small group of individuals make their slow way up the narrow lane, pausing as though waiting for someone or something at the mouth of an alley across from an old, abandoned tavern. Three of them slip rapidly across the street and into the shadows next to the tavern, while the rest loiter, talking amongst themselves and paying no obvious attention to anything around. Behind the tavern, two more shapes slip quietly out of the water where an old, rotting deck meets the bay, crouching in the darkness and shivering a little as they begin to dry.
And they wait.
The minutes tick by slowly; a few people walk down the street past the group huddled together across from the tavern, but they pay no mind to the loiterers, and go on their way. Water laps against the dock, and a few adventurous rats creep along the shadowy alleyway.
And then, just at midnight, a light flickers on inside the tavern's main room, visible through the tiny cracks around the boarded up windows.
Ellantera gives a start, hand going to her sword. "How did they get in?" She looks around to see if there is anyone around that might be coming to meet the people within.
"Did you see how someone got in? There are some lights flickering in there now...
Pleased that Galyna seems to know what she is about, Shiv silently settles in to await someone arriving only to be surprised by the sudden light coming from the building. Frowning to himself he listens intently and tries to peer through the cracks between boards at the back of the building. He chooses a spot that remains out of immediate sight of the back door should someone open it and signals that Galyna do the same.
Miet stands near the entrance of the ally using an Silent Image spell to create the Image of it just being a barrel relying on her Low light vision to keep an eye on things.
Kassandra is surprised as the entrance of the tavern is lighted, and even more so when she realizes Uraisa did not see anyone going in. "We saw no one, it might be a trapdoor in the floor or something similar which we missed". She looks around nervously, trying to see or hear anything that might help.
"Should we try and go in to see what's happening," Uraisa asks the others, not sure how to proceed.