Korriban and Gadriel spend the day happily wrapped up in the process of getting 3 Lancet back to shipshape; scrubbing and scouring, clearing out cobwebs, repairing what can be repaired and replacing some of the pieces that can't. By the end of the day, the house is pretty close to fully habitable again, and Gadriel feels a warm, happy presence in her mind--partly her own, surely, but also partly Zellara's spirit, still residing in the house and in her Harrow deck. The main bedroom, the common rooms, and the bathrooms are all fully restored, and the other bedrooms are at least clean--this will be a nice house now. Abu seems pleased enough by all the new sturdy surfaces to jump and bound off of, though he also chitters and mopes, as though he thinks that there are better ways to spend your time. Running over the rooftops, for example!
Not long before sunset, you find Soldado again not far from the Ironworks. "We've gotten permission to use the roofs," he says, grim-faced. "Let's see if we can't take this scoundrel down, huh?" Taking Korriban and Teodor into the alley, he points out your spots. "Korriban, you wait there--Teodor, I figure you can pretend to be a vagrant napping on the gravel piles. Probably best if you try to stay hidden, of course...hopefully he won't think you're with Korriban, if he does see you."
Gadriel and Adoros he leads up to the roof of a nearby building. "Figure we can watch from up here and intervene if necessary," he murmurs, winding back a crossbow. "Child slavers. I'm about ready to put a bolt in this man at first sight, but I don't think the Field Marshall would approve..." Glancing at Adoros's musket, he adds, "Strange weapon, that. Where'd you come by it?"
Gadriel nods, and flattens down on the other side of the pitched roof. Abu chitters softly for a moment, his eyes glowing yellow as a shimmering forcefield flickers into existence around Gadriel before fading from sight.
Korriban waits in his spot, pacing slightly, anxious for what's to come. He keeps an eye out for anything. He looks up and sees Gadriel. He makes a subtle gesture to indicate that she's not being subtle enough. Eventually, he begins whistling a small tune to help pass the time. He says in thoughtmindspeech, 'Majenko, see anything odd?'
"No, Korriban friend. The place has been quiet. No humans come or go back here but you..." Korriban feels a rustling in his mind, and notices the little pseudodragon perch on an upper eave of the Ironworks.
Teodor lays in a stupor, muttering unknown words.
Adoros finds a good vantage point on the roof to hunker down behind and readies his musket. At Soldado's query, the young Chelish man grins, "A gift from my uncle. It used to belong to an Alkenstar smuggler. A fine work of art, isn't it? You should see what it does to armor and flesh compared to a normal arrow or bolt. The future is fast approaching us, my friend." As he talks, Adoros tries to keep an eye down where Korriban is supposed to meet the slaver.
Grau snorts in response to Adoros's prediction. "So you say, my friend--but I'm not sure I always like the direction it's coming at us from." He sights down the crossbow and settles in. "This city's been different, lately..."
You don't have long to wait--just as Gadriel is hunkering down again in response to Korriban's hand sign, Tallak appears at the end of the alleyway. The tall, blond, muscled Ulfen man walks toward Korriban with a small smile playing across his lips, and stops when he's fifteen feet away. His eyes cut briefly aside to Teodor, lying on the rubble and mumbling, but then he refocuses on Korriban.
"Well," he asks with a smile, "have you considered my offer? Care to add a little excitement to your life?"
Korriban stops his pacing to look at Tallak. He smirks, "Yeah. I've been thinking about the deal. Though, could you explain it one more time? Just to be sure? I got clonked in the head by some idiotic brute, so some things might be a bit... rattled." He carefully and subtly moves his hand to the pouch with his tanglefoot bag.
He also thinks to Majenko, 'Majenko, the man I'm speaking to. Did he bring anyone else with him?'
Tallak's eyes narrow slightly. He glances around suspiciously. "What thug beat you, I wonder...?" His eyes scan the neighboring rooftops, but then he comes back to you. The blue eyes are hard, cold, and uncompromising.
"What are you playing at, boy?" he snarls. "You know the bargain. Tell me if you accept or refuse--I'm interested only in your choice."
Majenko thinks back to you, "I see none, Korriban friend."
Korriban frowns. 'D**n it. Found me out. Looks like I got no choice.' Korriban then eases back into his smile. "Easy there. No need to get angry. My answer is... no way in the Hells!" He then moves forward slightly before drawing the tanglefoot bag from his pouch and hurling it at Tallak! "Now!"
Teodor's eyes roll back into his head as he murmurs and chant, beseeching the Waiting One to grant him the use of a creature ...FROM BEYOND! Suddenly, a swollen, infested, deep green creature appears behind Tallak. It's black teeth snap and instead of a tongue it seems to have several hundred cilia writing in its mouth.
Tallak's eyes widen as Korriban steps forward, and he starts backward. "What in..." His words are cut off in a yell of pain as the monstrosity that Teodor summons behind him sinks its teeth into his leg.
Up on the rooftop, Grau stands with a curse. "Idiot's gone and blown the whole thing...have to hope we can capture him," he growls, taking aim with the crossbow. Tallak, taken off-guard, yells again as the quarrel sinks into his shoulder, though he doesn't seem to be seriously injured. He turns his eyes to Korriban, rage flaring up in him. "You pathetic boy!" he howls. "I will flay your bones and leave you for the devils of the ninth circle to feast on!"
Initiative:
Korriban
Teodor
Tallak
Gadriel
Grau
Adoros
Gadriel waits until Grau acts before standing up. With a thought, she mentally calls out "Majenko, tell Korriban we much capture the man alive." She then moves towards the scuffle, Abu's eyes starting to glow.
As the scuffle starts down in the alley, Adoros takes aim at Tallak's leg, hoping to wound the man to make it harder for him to disappear again. The air is filled with a sharp retort as the musket fires its deadly payload off into the distance.
Teodor's hideous beast chomps again at Tallak, this time biting more deeply
This almost distracts Tallak from Teodor's charging attack, but it goes wide anyway.
Korriban hurls the tanglefoot bag at Tallak.
However, it fails to hit it's mark. Frowning, the duelist draws his rapier.
As Gadriel dashes across the rooftops, Adoros's shot echoes through the alleyway. Tallak screams in pain and clutches at his leg, blood spurting from the wound in his thigh.
"Brought your fool friends, then, eh, boy?" he spits. "When I am through with you even fiends will shudder to look on your remains!" His words are undercut as the "rat" sinks its needle-sharp teeth into his leg yet again.
"Korriban-friend, the young one says to remember he must still live!" Majenko sings out to Korriban as he flits from one side of the alley to the other, a purple streak against the blue sky.
Though Korriban's tanglefoot bag misses Tallak, the man is bleeding heavily. He turns to Teodor with more rage than fear, though. "What are you supposed to be, then? Some sort of beggar mage, summoning perverse monstrosities?" The muscular man lashes out with his bare fists and knees. Two blows Teodor manages to dodge, but the third lands squarely on the older man's jaw. Teodor staggers backward, ears ringing and vision blurring, but manages to clear his head... As Teodor reels, Tallak carefully steps around the "rat," opening passage behind himself and taking shelter in the eaves of the northern houses from the rooftop team's attacks.
Up on the roofs, Grau swears again, reloads his crossbow, and then moves to follow Gadriel, carefully and nimbly hopping over the roof's gable.
Initiative
Korriban
Teodor
Tallak
Grau
->Gadriel
Adoros
Current HP: 8/30; AC/T/FF: 15/15/12; Fort: +8; Ref: +6; Will: +7; CMD: 17
Gadriel scampers across the roofs, her natural agility shining as a rain of shingles falls into the alley. Abu bounces along on her shoulder, maintaining a glowing stare on the man. Suddenly Abu shrieks, pointing his tiny claw towards him.
Adoros grins as his shot finds its target with a wet thunk. He quickly starts to reload in case Tallak brought any re-enforcements with him.
Despite Abu's curse, the tall Ulfen man seems completely unfazed--not slowed down or dazed at all. Abu chitters in rage as he realizes his lack of effect on the target, but this doesn't do anything either....
Korriban, seeing Teodor get beat by Tallak, stares at the Ulfen for a few moments with an incredulous look on his face. He then stands next Teo. He adopts a more defensive stance. With a smirk, he goads, "Come on. Your target's me. Or are you afraid of me?"
Tallak eyes Korriban's defensive stance. "What, you think I'm fool enough to fight two of you at once...when the old man's carrying that thing?" he snarls. He edges away, staying under the eaves of the roof. (You can hear Grau swearing quietly as he tries to find a clean shot.) "Your judgment will not come this day. But believe me, Korriban Balros, you will suffer for this breach of contract. The Fists of the Five do not forgive such slights easily."
As he backs away, he lashes out, suddenly and viciously, at the creature that Teodor summoned. One blow sweeps wide of its head, but the second lands on its back with a sickening crack. The beast hiss/squeaks in pain.
Above, Grau manages to make it to the edge of the roof and kneels, sighting down his crossbow at Tallak. With a muttered curse, he squeezes off a shot that just--barely--manages to fly at the right angle to catch the Ulfen's right shoulder. The muscled man screams in pain, and snarls up at the roof.
Initiative
Korriban
Teodor [delayed]
Tallak
Grau
->Gadriel
Adoros
Tallak: Current HP: 3/30; AC/T/FF: 15/15/12; Fort: +8; Ref: +6; Will: +7; CMD: 17
Rat: Current HP: 1/7
Teodor swings his flail and giggles as it almost hits Tallak. "Boy, they want you alive. How fun!
His gun reloaded, Adoros follows after Grau to the edge of the roof. He slides to his knees as he quickly lines up a shot and pulls his trigger, going for Tallak's left shoulder.
As the man falls, Abu's eyes glow faintly yellow. The wounds on him close up, and the bleeding stops. He lands in the dirt, bruised and bloodied, but his breath rising and falling steadily.
Tallak thuds to the ground as the echoes of Adoros's shot reverberate off the alley walls. Thanks to Abu's magic, though, his wounds close up and he seems to be out of immediate danger. He lies, breathing shallowly, crumpled on the ground as Grau carefully climbs down the wall to join Korriban and Teodor on the street level.
"Nice f%+!ing job, team," the young Guard sergeant growls. "Be glad to see this one locked up in the Citadel. C'mon, get him up and I'll get my men to help with the hauling." Going to the end of the alley, he whistles, and in a few moments his men have arrived with a crude stretcher, complete with restraints to keep the muscled man secure if he should wake up en route. It's the work of just a few moments to get Tallak loaded onto the stretcher and start your progress back to the Citadel. The sun is setting out over the hill on the main island of Korvosa as you wind your way south.
At Citadel Volshyenek, Kroft smiles grimly when she sees you return with the unconscious Ulfen. "Glad to see your little expedition went so well," she says curtly. "I'm always happy to see another slaver or drug dealer off the streets of Korvosa. Sergeant Soldado, be so good as to escort the prisoner into holding with your men. When he wakes up, I'm sure that our investigators will want to have words with him. The rest of you are welcome to come in for a drink, if you like, or to head on home--I'm sure it's been quite a night, and you've done excellent work. I'm finally starting to feel as though things are on the upswing for us here in the Guard." She leans easily on the doorframe of her office, smiling more gently now, and watches as Grau and his men head off toward the prison block.
Korriban smirks as the Ulfen goes down. He sheathes his blade and strolls over to the group, hands in his pockets and a smile on his face. He walks alongside Grau as the transport is made. He turns to Grau and asks, "So, Grau, I heard what you said since the fight started. I'm sorry. I just freaked because he saw through my ruse. You're not mad at me, are you?"
At the Citadel, Korriban smiles at Kroft's praises. At her offer, he shrugs, "Sure. Why not?"
After hanging out with Kroft and the others, Korriban makes his way home and tells his family about the going ons of this eventful day.
Gadriel shakes her head. "We thank for the thought, but the moon is out tonight and Abu is asking to watch it from 3 Lancet. We will be there when others are ready tomorrow. Or the next." With an honest smile, she bounds up a narrow alley to the rooftops once again and is soon running and leaping along their peaks back towards the house.
"A drink, I think. I've seen the brink! A drink, a drink!"
3:35 p.m.
For more than a week, you all enjoy peace--or at least, as much peace as Korvosa knows, lately. Imperia is thrilled to hear that you've apprehended her sister's would-be kidnapper, and even more pleased that you're each all right. Although she's had no further luck with the Academae, she remains hopeful that any day now, the famed institution of magic will reopen its doors and admit her sister.
That hope may yet be in vain, though. For all that the city is, on its surface, returning to normal life, a sinister and murderous pulse throbs just below the surface of daily activity as the hottest, most brutal days of summer roll by. A heat wave boils in from the mainland, and everyone from noblemen to dockworkers finds themselves sweating, cursing, and snapping as they go about their business. It's a heat for men and women to commit murders in. Rumors that the late King Eodred II was murdered continue to be bandied about, and the fact that the castle seneschal, Neolandus Kalepopolis, is a missing person is an open secret. In the darkest corners of the taverns and below the eaves of the close-huddling buildings in Old Korvosa, the most dangerous secret of all is hissed, usually after many mugs of ale: that the old King was poisoned, and maybe, perhaps, by the new Queen.
On the 29th of Erastus, everything suddenly changes. It seems a Fireday like any other, but early in the morning you hear rumors of a loud demonstration, almost a mob, forming near the castle; by noon more and more people are streaming toward the Heights, and there are reports of Hellknights starting to break up bigger groups. Something important seems to be afoot. It's mid-afternoon when a breathless Korvosan Guard private finds you, thrusting a letter into your hands that's sealed with the insignia of the Guard. Cracking it open, you read:
As you have likely heard, something has transpired for which I require your immediate assistance. Meet me at the fourth hour of the afternoon at your 3 Lancet Street domicile; I will be there without fail, and I shall certainly make it worth your while.
Sincerely,
Field Marshal of the Korvosan Guard
Cressida Kroft
You don't have long--best hurry to Lancet Street!
"A painter ...a creator, not destroyer. Why? Think and think
Who profits? A painter profits from assassination how? Asmodeus. Better a beggar a janitor a lessthan than the Devil. And guess what? The Good Lord will sweep Asmodeus' dust like all the others."
The last few days have been interesting for Korriban. He divides the time to his family, his friends, and his newfound mentor, Vencarlo. The Rosa has seen its share of conspiracy nuts, but nothing violent. He did receive his new gatorskin boots and proudly wears them, knowing that his vengeance is complete. Also, the Rosa now has 4 platinum to spend on renovations.
Receiving the letter, Korriban makes his way over to Lancet 3. His appearance hasn't change much. He now sports a thin and neatly trimmed mustache. His stubble is still growing in, though he now has a soul patch. Given a few more days or weeks, he would have a goatee. His ponytail is now slightly shorter, having gotten a haircut at the Rosa.
As he heads over there, Korriban hears the the priest of the Devil-God shouting. As he's taken away, the rogue shouts out, "Shove it, devil priest!" He then meets up with Teo and begins to discuss the news along the way. "So, everyone's on the look out for Trinia Sabor? Wouldn't be surprised if she's innocent in all of this."
Gadriel spends much of the time putting the finishing touches on 3 Lancet. She ensures clean linen and a couple of comfortable places to sleep should any of her friends need it, and a moderately stocked larder for those who come for meals. She continues to run the roofs though, watching the increasing chaos below from on high. During the evenings, she chats with the image of Zellara about the house. As her friends begin to arrive, Gadriel is perched on the window sill upstairs, listening to the mounting riot and watching as others get pulled towards it. "We are a strange creature, that violence and anger pulls us towards."
On arriving at 3 Lancet, Adoros shakes his head at the streets outside, "It is all a matter of time before the lynch mob finds this woman and she'll probably never see a fair trial before they have her strung up. Truly, Korvosa is in a sad state when the mob is allowed to rule the streets." He rubs his eyes which appear to have dark rings under them from a sleepless night spent writing and rewriting a certain letter.
Just as Adoros makes his remark about the mob, there's a sharp rap on the door, and a uniformed member of the Korvosan Guard opens it and strides in, taking in the house warily. He's followed shortly by Cressida Kroft herself, in full uniform and armor--something you've never seen in your meetings at Citadel Volshyenek. She shakes her head wearily as she enters and takes off her helmet, putting it on the table. "The streets are starting to go crazy out there," she says grimly. "Ah, good. You're all here. My apologies for arriving so suddenly at your home, but this event would brook no delay. The mob outside is close to turning ugly."
Asking permission with a raised eyebrow, Kroft pours herself a mug of water from a nearby jug, and sits at the kitchen table. “You’ve doubtless heard the stories that the king’s killer has been named. Yet there’s something more going on here, I’m afraid. Queen Ileosa could have quietly had this Trinia Sabor arrested at any time, yet the way she revealed the information to the city seems to me like she wants the riots to come back. Certainly, with the mob and the Hellknights out on the street, the girl doesn’t stand a chance at a trial—they’ll lynch her the moment they find her. And even if she did kill the king, mob justice isn’t the way. Worse, if she’s innocent, the real killer can use this distraction to throw us off the trail forever.
“Before Trinia is executed, we need to be absolutely sure she did this thing. And that means we need to catch her before the mob. We know where she lives—a flat in Midland at 42 Moon Street—but soon, so will the mob. The Hellknights don’t seem to care as much about catching her as they do about containing the mob—something about the 'order of law' makes that a greater priority for them to contain than a possible assassin." Kroft snorts contemptuously, and you remember her vicious argument with Madrayne Vox. "I can’t say I disagree completely, but the problem is, the Hellknights are only making it worse. The mob’s covering most of Midland now, and Trinia’s flat is near the middle of the mess. I’ve got all available guards at work keeping things from getting any worse—and if I were to send them into Midland, they’d trigger a riot.
“I’m sure you can see where this is going. I need you to get into Midland, find Trinia, and bring her back to me so we can deliver her, safe and sound, to somewhere where she can be interrogated—preferably with magic, so we can be absolutely sure about her role in Eodred’s death. Get in there, catch her, and get out without letting the mob get its hands on her. I’ll have agents and officers nearby. If you can get her to one of them, we’ll be in the clear. Any questions?” She looks around, clearly drained, but alert and expectant, awaiting your answers.
"None easily answered. Interesting isn't it, the Queen behaving this way? Distractions and fascism. Say what you will about Eodred, but he didn't bring Devilf$$~ers to terrorize his own people."
Looking out the window, Korriban says to the young girl, "This is nothing. I got a feeling that this is only the calm before the storm."
Looking to the Chelish man, Korriban responds, "If she's guilty in the first place." Noticing the rings under Adoros's eyes, Korriban smirks. "You look a tad worn out, Smokestick. What have you been up to? You haven't been visiting my sister in private, have you?" He then strokes his facial hair. "What a difference between us over the past few days; me becoming even more roguishly good-looking while you are becoming weary and tired." He jokes good-naturedly.
Korriban thinks for a moment. "I don't trust the word of the Queen. I say that this is some kind of setup to hang someone. But, we need answers. Kroft, do you have a description of Trinia? If so, I think I can help locate her." 'Majenko, we need your help.'
Hearing Teo's thoughts, "I agree with you, Teo. It is rather odd that the Queen is doing this instead of something to help calm down the populace, rather than sparking riots. At least Eodred looked out for us poorer folk. And the Hellknights weren't running around, doing whatever the bloody H**ls they wanted."
Looking to Kroft once more, he asks, "By the way, did Tallak spill any information on the Five Fists?" Turning to Teodor, he asks, "So, what story did you spread about Tallak's disappearance? I'm rather curious."
Distantly, the group can "hear" Majenko's reply. "I come, I come. Many two-legs flood our aerie, and the flight is regrouping. I come."
Kroft snorts with grim mirth at Teodor's language, but holds up a hand when Korriban insinuates that Queen Ileosa has ulterior motives. "I doubt this is a setup, Korriban," she says sternly. "The Queen is a young and inexperienced ruler, and I suspect that has far more to do with recent events than any malice or manipulation. This information should never have been presented to anyone beside myself and Commandant Endrin of the Sable Company, but the Queen felt it best to inform all the Guard officers. I think that idiot castle guard's suicide shook her, and Merrin." She sighs heavily.
"Sabor was in the castle at the right time to have, perhaps, poisoned the king. Apparently she was painting a portrait of the late King and spent a number of hours closeted alone with him. The castle employees describe her as a slim young woman, perhaps twenty-five, with short blonde hair and large blue eyes." Turning to Korriban with barely disguised irritation at his obsession with Tallak, she adds, "The man's been a hard nut to crack, to be sure--he's clammed up. But frankly, given his containment, I have bigger problems at the moment, and they grow larger every second." She glances outside, clearly eager for you--and herself--to get underway.
"Perhaps he might later, after a full digestion of the s+$$ sandwich his life is now, he might do well to be ...ministered upon. As a man of the cloth, I will hear his confession. But but but that is another time, a later for, sub plot little revival old time religion. Right now a life has been put up as game, rules broken. Her life is no mob's. It is her own, and the Good Lord's"
"Abu wonders if Kroft has thoughts on where the girl may have run to? Korvosa is large, to search it all is too much for even the mighty Majenko."
"This thing has exploded pretty quickly," Kroft replies. "And frankly, Sabor would be dead by now if she'd wandered onto the streets. My hope is that she may be holed up at home, since the mob doesn't know where that is...yet. Start there. If she's not there, her neighbors may know where to look; we got the address from a Guard private who lives in the same building, and said she's pretty well known to the residents."
Korriban looks at Kroft. "I apologize, ma'am. I am just concerned. If the Five Fists act up at this point, then it would create more trouble. So, you understand my anxiousness."
After hearing Trinia's description, Korriban gives a smirk as he strokes his chin. "So, we're looking for a young blonde and most likely beautiful woman, eh? Well, we must not keep her waiting. She's in danger." When Majenko arrives, Korriban tells him telepathically about Trinia's description and location, even pointing it out on any maps that lie in 3 Lancet. He turns to the others. "Well, if we're all ready, then let's go!"
Kroft stands, nodding briskly as she retrieves her helmet and puts it back on. "Remember--it's not just finding this girl, it's getting her safely away from the mob and into the hands of my officers as well. I have to go back into the field, but I'll be told immediately if you're successful. Good luck. I'd rather not have a bloodbath on my hands, if at all possible." Exiting with her retinue, she leaves you to prepare for your hunt.
Passing through the afternoon crowds, you see what Kroft is worried about; the closer you get to the Midlands, the more the crowd seems like a mob, and the more violent the mob itself seems. Several times, you detour through alleys or backstreets to avoid tiny pockets of violence, whether enraged citizens breaking windows or storefronts, or Hellknights wreaking immediate justice upon looters with their iron greatswords. The air is a stinking miasma of hot summer sun, city refuse, and, increasingly, sweat, anger, and fear as you press uphill and into the interior of the city.
Moon Street is in a densely built section of the Midlands, a place deeply overshadowed by the Shingles, the rooftop slum that has taken over the upper stories of many poorer sections of Korvosa. With so much ramshackle building going on above, the street is dark and surprisingly cool; but the buildings seem to lean in, careening toward each other as you pass beneath, looming around you as you hunt. Beggars sit in doorways and watch, silently, leery of violence, as you pass. Wooden shutters are slammed occasionally as you walk by, and less paranoid residents just watch curiously and warily from their doorsteps. Fortunately, this street is small and out of the way enough that it's been spared most of the mob so far--but it's only a matter of time before it comes crashing in.
42 Moon Street is a three-story tenement that's clearly packed with residents; the unsteady-looking building has washing hanging from most windows and a long list of names by the door. The names are on a piece of paper, from which you deduce that at least some residents must change over frequently. Pushing your way through the unlocked door, you find yourself in a small common room, with a front desk to your left housing the proprietor: a slight, pale man in the later years of middle age, crooked glasses slipping down his large nose. A motley crew of what you assume are residents is relaxing in the lobby: a dark-skinned woman in Garundi dress is speaking warmly with the proprietor when you enter, a blonde halfling woman sits on an armchair reading, and a strongly built man who clearly has orcish heritage sits on a chaise whittling something with a dagger. Conversation halts when your party enters, and the proprietor asks gruffly, "Well? What can I do for you fine gentlefolk?"
Korriban nods at Kroft. "Aye aye."
Korriban tenses as the team goes through the Midlands, the crowds and their animosity becoming thicker in the air. As the team makes their way down Moon Street, Korriban takes in the sight of the Shingles. As the team enters 42 Moon Street, the rogue stands up straighter, attempting to look the part of a simple courier. Korriban keeps his wits about them as they go through the common room. At the proprietor's question, Korriban smiles. "We've got a parcel that needs deliverin'! Our boss told us that we need to hand it to our client ourselves. So could you let us upstairs?"
He telepathically speaks to Majenko. 'Majenko, we're inside. See if you can see Trinia through any of the windows.'
Adoros frowns at the rickety-looking tenement with concern as they file into the lobby. He eyes the inhabitants, paying close attention to the armed orc-ish man. He backs up Korriban with his made-up story, "Yes, we're with Korvosian Express delivery service. We guarantee your packages delivered on time and in pristine condition anywhere in the city." Adoros keeps an eye on the stairwell for any signs of movement from a possible eavesdropping observer.
The landlord blinks, and relaxes slightly. "Well...I suppose that's all right, then," he says, resettling his glasses and putting away a ledger that's been sitting, open, on the desk. "Who is it, exactly, you're looking for? I've got someone in every room at the moment."
Although the landlord seems happy enough to be accommodating, the other residents are all still watching you, slightly warily.
Korriban briefly bites his lip before leaning in to the landlord. "We're making a delivery to Trinia Sabor. Now, don't worry. Our client is actually concerned for her safety. He gave us a pouch of 10 platinum pieces, a high grade disguise kit, and a map of the city. If that's not enough, then we've been ordered to get her out. So which room is she in?"
The landlord stares at Korriban incredulously for a moment or two, but then slowly starts to nod. "Very well, then," he says. Leaning forward conspiratorially he says, "Her rooms at the very top--the third floor, the door on the left." Leaning back, he adds, "She's a good lass--I'm sure that she didn't do any of the things they're sayin' about her."
As the landlord speaks, the blonde halfling hops idly out of her chair and heads upstairs.