Ariana moves through the bodies, gathering any supplies that might help them--either in the short or long term. As she does, she speaks quietly, directing questions at Z.
"You change sides quickly. I'm not so comfortable with you armed and near us. Get too close to me and you'll find what other magic I have up my sleeve."
How many times do I have to say this? You Should Be Dead. When the well went up to blew a crater in the ground. I barely got out, and I was in the library still!
After the combat Noro has a seat she does not move for several seconds, her breathing is heavy. Her eyes look sickly.
Ariana waves a hand at Z. "Bah, that explosion? That was hardly a scratch."
:P
Z looks at you suspiciously, but says, Wow. They must have some good magic in those masks...
He then walks forward to answer Halsanna's question. The second boss, the were-rat, is down there. Has been ever since he arrived. He's got a clieric down there and a couple of his rat cronies besides. Careful of him though. He's at his best one on one.
"Has he set up any traps?" asks Zayid, quietly, watching the scene around him shift back into normal colors. When this is over... I should talk to the kid. But what would I say? If I told him about my life, he'd just think I was a boring adult talking... he reminds me of Scout.
If they did they're new additions. He's been trying to crack the vault down there ever since his arrival, but youall know all about that. It's why you're here, after all!
Noro catches her breath after a bit, and the color returns to her face. her sickness has passed, she gets up. no point washtin more time, it sheemsh we have a rat problem, an itsh time we do shome exterminatin.
Noro looks for a way down to where the vault may be.
There is a stairway leading down from the room in which Freia was fighting.
Noro goes by she looks at the dead thugs, then to Freia, your handy-work? she asks giving a thumbs up of approval.
The stair down to the basement is labeled "Records" in an eye catching yet plain plaque. They are narrow, cramped, and smell of old paper.
The basement itself looks and smells like an underground library with the notable addition of a metal vault at the far end of the room. Unfortunately, the ceiling-high shelves of paper and books hide the far side of the room from view.
Light in this room is scarce. Lanterns hang on spikes at the end of each row and that's about it. It's not quite dark, but it's nowhere near light either.
Zayid squints slightly, trying to peer into the back of the room. As his eyes adjust to the light, he frowns. Just like a rat to hide in a partially-lit area... Aboki gives a little growl, and Zayid finds himself echoing the sentiment. Rats don't deserve life... but maybe it will at least provide a bit of sport before it dies.
Zayid gives a little sniff and steps forward, intent on tracking his prey.
Zayid - The room smells of abomination to you. Like tat and human was rolled into one then fed to a troglodyte. It's not overpowering like a troglodyte, but your connection to the natural world is offended my it's mere presence.
Everyone else - Zayid's hair just shifted a few shades toward Brown and his eyes have turned golden with vertical pupils, like aboki's.
---Earlier---
Freia grins and nods at Noro, followed by a pained grunt. She sighed and sunk back against the wall, leaning against it for strength. Ooww She looked down and poked the dead thug at her feet. I'm better of then him atleast! She retrieved the wand and tapped herself with it. The familiar but unsettling fire spread in her veins but at the very least, her wounds started to close.
---Now, downstairs---
Freia sniffs the air carefully. It smelt quite homely - musky old tomes.
"This is the archives all right..."
In preparation for the inevitable conflict, Freia pulled out a darkflare from her bag. She suspected that the werecreatures would try and use the poor lighting for their advantage - this would atleast try and stop it.
recovered from her fatigue and sickness Noro will take the lead down the stairs, she is still covered in minor cut and gashes but has done a fair job staunching any additional blood loss. she pushes forward despite her pain.
I'll take point, jusht in cashe.
---Earlier---
As she felt her strength returning she stood up properly and looked around. The ground was littered with bodies - but none of the belonged to a Tear, thankfully. And none of the others were injured enough for her to notice either. I hope I hope I hope our fortune lasts!
"Anyone else hurt?"
---Now---
She looked around in the room, but there was still no sign of the dreaded ambush. Her gaze lingered on Zayid for a moment - had his hair changed colour? Must be a trick of light ... Or that blow to the head was worse then I feared!
That metal vault intrigued her. Probably where the city kept their more important records and deeds. I wonder if the thieves and looters managed to get inside yet - or if they are still trying?
You proceed down the right side aisle as quietly as you can. Most of you are able to round the far corner before a man steps out from in front of the long safe, more like a vault, and sees you!
Finally! Took you long enough. He says with a bit of frustration. C'mon and help us get this open like you promised. Something is going on upstairs and we're running out of time.
Zayid - He doesn't smell of Wererat himself, but there is at least one Wererat here, you know it.
Help? Promised? Zayid sniffs a few times to be sure of the man's scent, then shakes his head. Aboki whines. Need to catch the rat. No, wait... the masks. Why does he think we're here to help him? Unless there's another rat... within the Tears.
Suddenly Zayid gives a low growl. Trying to recall what he can of his uncle's (may he rot in his grave) attitude toward inferiors, he spits out, "You don't give the orders, so don't try to pretend you do, or I'll turn around and leave you high and dry for when the others get here... you got that?"
The man holds up his hands and takes a step back. A half rat, half human face peeks around the corner at you. When he speaks his voice is a counter intuitive barritone. Calm down, Tear, were all on the same side here. Now would you kindly help me with this pick? The tumblers are giving me fits.
Oh... now the others are going to think... gahh, what have I done? Stupid, stupid, stupid... well, no choice but to make the best of it now.
With a slight nod, Zayid moves to the front of the group, flanked by Aboki. Kneeling beside the door, he peers into the keyhole. "What's supposed to be in here, anyway?" he asks. "Must be important to stick a lock like this on it." This lock looks simpler than the ones Malzin used to use on his shop door... wonder if there're any magical traps.
Zayid - You notice a small alarm rune etched on the inside. If you continue much farther without disabling or circumventing it everyone within quarter mile is going to hear it.
Taxes for the last two weeks, or so your boss told me. His share is the files on that Seaborse Express company. I almost asked why, but decided against it. You know how he can be.
Zayid chuckles "knowingly" and fiddles with the lock for a few seconds, careful not to trigger the alarm. "Strange. Did he say why he couldn't get one of the all-powerful 'Sorries' to req the files?" he asks, making up the derogatory nickname on the spot and trying to sound jaded. He lets the memories of his "discussion" about Aboki wash over him, embracing the anger and disillusionment he felt at the time in order to make his tone more authentic.
Freia froze and blinked stupidly for a moment. It's lucky I'm wearing this mask ... Desperately she tried to piece together all the information in her head - and quickly! He. Not Absentia then - but with magic ... And the Seaborse Express? Their ships we investigated. But why would anyone higher up here need access to those files now - when we were already sent to secure them? To *hide* them instead?! But they must have known we were sent to! A second rouge team to clean up after us and secure the files? She couldn't help but look around in discomfort, eyeing the entrance and anticipating armed warriors to burst trough at any moment.
The rat chuckles, No, 'cept that it wasn't my business.
A soft click signals that the lock had yielded.
Absentia's quiet voice whispers into your ears, I am nearby. Bring them into the vault, then stall them.
Zayid starts slightly at the soft whisper. So, she knew about this. Why not tell us? Maybe they were trying to trap me... if so, this sure looks bad.
"It's open," mutters the young man quietly. "Let's get inside before the others show up."
Noro stood off to the side listening to the other more charismatic tears do the talking. Besides anything Noro would say would definitely lead to a fight.
I keep watch out here in cashe trouble showsh up. Noro moves to a spot outside the vault and she can see inside.
The door to the vault is heavy opens reluctantly. Inside are boxes of papers stacked to the ceiling and extending half way back. The back half is stacked with chests. Heavy, hardwood chests bound in iron and locked, though the locks are simpler than the one on the door. The vault smells much the same as the room it is in, though the air feels cooler.
The Rat goes in first and starts scanning boxes. Let's get your box so I can get my payment out of here.
Noro- Z slides up next to you. His eyes dart this way and that, seeking a trap. So... he begins a little awkwardly, I never did say thanks for the candies...
He sounds a little nervous, as if giving thanks isn't something he's had to do often.
Zayid's eyes scan the room as he tries to think of ways to stall the others. "Careful," he warns in a low voice, "there may be other traps in here, and you wouldn't want to stumble across them."
The rat looks over his shoulder at you. You haven't broken into many vaults, have you?
The tanned young man just shrugs, half-hoping there really are more traps, and tries to suppress the feline urge to pounce on his unsuspecting prey.
Stall them? Freia shuddered. Things were getting stranger and stranger. She followed the rat-man and Zayid into the vault, keeping a close eye on Arianna. I wonder how she is holding up... Freia recalled her first day as a Tear - and that list of their crimes. A shiver crawled up her spine but she did her best to pretend it was the cool air.
With a barely audible sigh she focused at the task at hand and looked around in the room. Zayid and the rat-mans exchange gave her an idea.
"Hmm"
Gently she tapped one of the boxes.
"They might be Arcane Marked or something similar to track them."
It wasn't really a lie - they could be! Maybe...
"Give me a few minutes and I'll look them over. Wouldn't want anyone to follow ..."
Freia quietly waits a moment or two for a response then casts the Detect Magic cantrip and looks around in the vault.
"As I thought. The boxes are marked for tracking. Better get that away as quick as possible..." Please, don't let him know Magic!! Freia prayed and hoped her silent wish didn't somehow tip the thieves off.
Freia - The crates are, in fact, really marked, though it's for filing purposes, you think. Each crate glows with a different colored aura, though it means nothing to you as you have no knowledge of the system.
There is the sound of hurried thudding down the stairs and a scurrying sound comes down the right side hall. Another rat appears and yells, Boss! We got a problem! Seether just spotted one of them Sorrows comin'! It's just a block away!
The rat curses and orders, Get the boys in here and set up! If we want to get out of here we're gonna have to make it disappear.
He then turns to youall. So, you ready to render that aid you promised if we were caught?
Oh, this could get ugly... unless...
"Hold," replies Zayid quickly, trying to form his plan even as he speaks it. "It might be the uh... our contact. The boss couldn't tell you about it before, thought it might've spooked you or something." He glances over in Freia's direction as if for confirmation, wishing the stupid mask he wore weren't preventing her from seeing his subtle facial cues. Then again, it's also preventing them from seeing my panic...
"Uhmm - contact? Maybe. Yeah, I-I hope so!" Freia stammered. She was glad her face was a silver mask right now. Disappear? Disappear! "But I might have a precaution!"
The tiefling throws down her back at the floor and starts going trough it until she finds her waterproof covering wraps. Carefully she pulls them out and unties the string, opening the package up. Inside is her spellbook, a few loose notes and a handful of scrolls. With a triumphant *aha* she pulls one of them out.
"This might just work! It should just be our contacts but ... " She shudders again then holds the scroll up for the ratman to see. "Better safe then sorry."
Eagerly she recites the arcane words and gestures towards the back of the vault. There, out of the nothing a new back wall manifests. Currently, a few scattered boxes cut halfway trough the wall so that the less than solid nature of it is apparent for everyone.
"Quickly! Move the crates so they don't intersect the wall and we'll hide behind it! They'll never know we're even here, if we just keep quiet ..."
Noro simply tussles Z's hair, yer welcome. is all she says keeping her attention on the goings on inside the vault.
as preperations are made Noro looks to Z, besht go hide in there, I'll shtay here to deal with the Sorrow.