Sentis was mildly disappointed to not be included in the scout team but...our corporal?..sargeant?...I am still having trouble with some of these miltary terms... knew best so he waited patiently with Baran on the stoop.
Dark quietly follows Grusk, perfectly happy to be away from the crowd.
Advance Scouts:
The group sets out on their appointed mission and it takes a good hour or so to navigate the winding streets and find out the indicated spot where Vankerman was purported to have purchased the mansion. It's a big and imposing building, sitting nestled within a walled estate that bears high walls to block any realistic peek within. Moving around towards the entrance... you spot a peculiar sight. Standing at relative attention and guarding the front gates are two men wearing your colours... those of the Blood Hawks. They appear to have their attention pointed outwards, towards any that might be planning to approach the mansion compound.
Boozy Crew:
Settling into your much less challenging pursuit of emptied tankards and ribald tales you await the arrival of the city guard. Doc finds that as the common room swells he gets a few signs of recognition and playful requests that he repeat the spectacle that he laid out previously, but if not entertained the men dissipate without too much challenge.
It's been about an hour or more when the barkeep whistles to attract your attention. She jerks her head towards a couple of city guard - both half-caste Mwangi - that have just entered and taken a corner table.
Sentis jumped at the chance to join the two half orcs ...besides Sunny didnt say to stay where I was either...
The druid eyed the estate and whistled softly under his breath. That looks like a tough nut to crack and with our brothers at the gates no less. Blaze wont like this at all. We better not get too close.
He caught the scent trail and sighed...of course...
Our kidnapper came through here. Its faint but here none the less.
Perception
+2 monsterous humanoids
"Security was on tha man's mind and now he is gone."
Blaze motions to Doc "Grab a pair of mugs and lets go chat with those guards, shall we?"
"Aye." Doc grunts, returning to the bar for refills and two additional drinks.
"Do the Mwangi make any good drinks?" Doc asked their host. "Two o' whatever those two like but cannae afford very often."
The barkeep has a strange look on her face for a moment before shaking her head "I wouldn't bother with the local stuff... these boys've been away from that awhile" taking a couple of cigarillos from under the counter and handing them forward "Give these a go instead" before filling your drinks order as well.
Grinning his thanks, Doc made his way to where Blaze had sat with the Mwangi guards and thumped the pitchers down with gusto.
"Ye lads look like ye could use a drink!"
The guards look at you guardedly as they chew over their response "Aye, drink is welcome... but what's the cost?"
"We're lookin' fer a guy name o' Vankerman. We hear ye know 'im."
The guards snort with a mixture of amusement and derision "Heh - I can tell ye where he lives, but I don't know the guy himself. Ain't much to do with the common folk is the feeling I get."
The other guard adds with a hint of realization "You guys are mercs right... Blood Hawks? - shouldn't you guys know more'n us, what with one of your squads on the gate and all?"
Blaze is a bit stunned to learn other Hawks are guarding Vankerman, but doesn't let it show "Aye, we are, but we were hoping you guys might have some information about his current whereabouts, information the guards may not share"
"We're Wolves, not Hawks. Same company. Different unit. Din't know they were workin' for 'im. That's interestin'."
Shrugging "Far as I can tell he's holed up at home. Seems enough activity inside the walls and the occasional carriage around town."
Perception
1d20+8 +2 monsterous humanoids"Security was on tha man's mind and now he is gone."
Well, it seems like we found what we came for. Should we return to our fellow Wolves or try to find a back way in where those Hawks wont see us?
"Might be ok fer one o us tah approach an get names an faces tah go wit them colors, tha hawks should be willin tah talk at least tah determine iffen were supposed tah be hangin round."
"Hate tah think someone other tha hawks was wearin tha garb."
Grusk recognizes the face of one of the guards - not anyone that you know directly, but you have seen him around the barracks on occasion.
Maybe it would be wisest to approach our fellow Hawks back at the barracks instead of in front of Vankermann's mansion. I'd hate to cause a scene here and ruin any advantage we have with surprise.
"Good plan Sentis."
Dark just follows quietly, feeling a bit out of place in the city.
"We have to report tha professors place is being guarded by blood hawks at least two from tha rank an file, I don't recall their names, but no doubt it was two o em."
"Aye, tha's what we jus' learned too. Sit down, 'ave a drink."
Turning back to the guards, Doc says "Look, we really ain't much good at bein' subtle, so we're jus' gonna level wit' ya. We think Vankerman might o' nabbed a friend o' ours, an' we need t' find out if'n he's at that new manorhouse. We don' really want t' fight th' Hawks. We jus' want t' rescue a guy who they might not even realize they're guarding. C'n you two tell us anythin' that might help us out?"
The guards take a long draught and swirl it about thoughtfully before swallowing "As long as no word makes out if it goes t*%! up aye? If we see you breaking in, we gotta at least try and keep the peace... be a pity if you tried it just after dawn tomorrow when we're patrolling elsewhere" fixing Doc with a knowing look.
"There's definitely somebody there - lights in the windows and you see some shadows moving about at times. Mainly on the second level. The front's guarded by some of your Mercs... but there's a servants entrance at the back I think that they occasionally slip out of. That might get you in ok."
"Aye, that'd be a right shame." Doc says with a nod. "We def'nitly won't do that."
Standing up to get a refill, Doc thumbs back to towards the guard's table and talks to the bartender.
"Those two blokes, they drink on my tab fer the next week, an' their last round gits one o' these in it every night."
Doc hands the bartender a small bag full of chalky tablets.
"Somting smells ishy an it ain't Doc's new girlfriend."
Kaavel looks about before pulling out something wrapped up it seems to be salted fish that smells fishy "Might of been this Grusk, took it to eat, want some?"
"Went out wit' a Triton fer a spell, back when ah was a sailor." Doc said, sitting down with mugs for everyone who had just arrived. "Tha' was interestin'. Green nipples. Webbed fingers an'... things. An' damn could that lass sing."
Grusk scratches his head wondering about dwarven sailors, he looks at his axe and knows swimming with an axe is no easy feat....
"Doc ken yah whip someting up tha would make mah axe float on water?"
The barkeep takes the bag with a nod and slips it under the counter.
Doc eyeballs the axe and scratches his beard, "B'sides little inflatable floaty wings? Ah could make up a foam sleeve tha' might do th' trick. Honestly, Just makin' ya a new axe outta ironwood, or clouded mithril, or even somethin' like dragon bone if we c'n git some, tha' might be a better option."
Blaze thinks for a few moments "I think the best plan is to check this servant's entrance out, and see about sneaking in. Question is, do we do a little recon on it first, or just decide to make a run at it?"
"I think tha full team, some sneakin in and the rest in reserve waitin outside, if tha way ken be cleared quietly tha werks."
The night passes and dawn finds you casing out the compound in question. You easily slip around the front of the estate and spot the service entrance at the rear. Camping out for a while to see if the guard's intel plays out.
Sentis had those pre battle jitters that old men talk about having their first few times out. It wasnt the prospect of possibly having to combat any armed resistance it was the possible backlash if this all went sour and they had to face a very angry Captain that as causing it. He waited as patiently as he could for their opening to move.
Maybe twenty minutes after you arrive, the servant's entrance opens and you see a reasonably well dressed gentleman step outside to light a tabac pipe. The door is open for now, and the man is leaning against the wall enjoying his smoking as a cathartic release.
"I can sneak in, unseen, and check to make sure the coast is clear on the inside."
Stealth
"Let us sneak in fer a closer look."
Perception:
Grusk begins to stalk with consummate grace across the gap between the open door and your lurk... only to slam his shin into a jutting timber and choke down a curse. Luckily it coincided with the slop of a chamber pot being thrown out further down the lane and the half-orc was not detected.
"Grusk really needs to learn about teamwork and patience. Doc hand me one of those knockout patches" When he does so, the magus utters a fiery sounding word, and disappears.
Grusk waits for others to arrive, but secures the door..