JJ looks around.
"I was going to use... unconventional... means to climb up, and just stick to those shadows over there" he says, pointing to the growing shadow cast by one of the corner turrets.
"Then see if I can slip in a window before they get shuttered for the night. I mean, look at those shutters, no way would I get through them. But if they close them at night.. that means the windows must open, right?"
JJ, and anyone else paying attention, can see some laborers and farmers walk down Obsidian Avenue towards the central, poorer, neighborhoods from time to time coming back to home after a hard day of work, but otherwise the street is calm.
Profiting one of those moments without no one, Maxim moves forward hiding behind of the entrance columns and silently manipulates the door's lock until he hears the rewarding sound he was looking for.
Maxim gives the others the nod that the lock had fallen to his consummate skill...
Don't need no Strider's walkin' 'bout inside our heads to operate like a well oiled machine. Hell's Teeth we been doin' this without any darned aid fir a long time now...
The gunmage attempts to open the unlocked door a crack, then pauses to see if naught can be heard;
"Wh-whatever works," Marigold whispers back to JJ as Maxim works on the front door. Once she notices that he's been successful, she looks to the rest of the group. "We were g-going to use m-magics to sneak inside, r-right? If the c-coast is c-clear, I mean..."
Seeing no need to skulk up the side of the buliding, JJ slinks over to join Maxim at the front door, once the road is clear.
As he moves, he changes into a generic looking halfling.
"Might help me scout ahead.."
"I'd appreciate slipping out of sight, and into silence. Whoever is offering the cloaking, I'm ready. JJ, hold up before you enter. The guards didn't open the door themselves, so you're likely getting jumped either way..."
"O-okay...I should p-probably slip into s-silence too, even though it'll interf-f-fere with my c-casting," Marigold nods. "But I st-still have a few t-tricks up my s-sleeve that I d-don't need w-words or s-sound to pull out, at l-least," she smiles.
______________
As the group approaches House Rhiavadi and prior to Maxim heading to the door, Kythel casts Protection from Evil both on himself and JJ. "I would like to slip in first, invisible and with the aid of stealth, I can be more effective away from anyone magically silenced".
Kythel nods and casts Silence centered on Kikinnin.
Maxim peers through the door's crack. There is little he can see from this angle besides a colorful tapestry and a plant. Next to the plant, 20 feet ago, there is a half-orc immersed in a deep exploration of one of his nostrils.
Soft music escapes the hall through the door crack.
The gun-mage's brow furrows as he scans the interior through the cracked open door.
He raises his hand, showing "1" then moves back to his companions;
"One half orker. Minin' fir sumthin' up his own nostril. Looks bored, but could be a ruse... I'll defer to someone more foolhardy on the next step."
Should anyone offer him the wand, Maxim merely scowls and shakes his head.
O'er my dead corpse. Ain't acceptin' aid from them darned Striders.
JJ slinks into the nearby shadows. If and when the door is opened, he will slip through it.
Kythel moves back with Maxim,"I can cast a holding spell on the Guard. Allowing us to sneak in. Juraan, can you activate the wand now for those of us who wish to be invisible?"
Kikinnin allows Kythel his attempt before slipping into Silence himself, and giving the casters space to weave their spells.
Once Kikinnin has been Disappeared and Silenced, he moves through the door, and heads straight at the lone half-orc identified by the blond beard. His intent is to allow a fringe of space at the doorway to permit his companions to chuck spells, but his main goal is to drown the guard in Silence to forbid them any chance of making noise.
If the guard is indeed Held, Kikinnin's Axe becomes more of an executioner's blade.
With Maxim rejecting to touch the wand, it all comes back to Juraan helping the team turn invisible with the device.
The group moves then to the front door, and there, Kythel casts silence on Kikinnin and climbs to the exterior wall. Then, Kikinnin opens the door to the entry room.
Soft music fills this opulent, sparsely furnished hall. A few chairs and plants stand against the walls be neath brightly colored tapestries. A five-foot-wide, ten-foot-tall spiraling column of butterflies floats in the middle of the hall, moving to the sound of the music.
Two half-orcs standing near the entrance holding large orc double axes startle as the door opens. One tries to talk but founds alarmed that his voice is unable to produce any sound.
Kikinnin steps in and delivers a powerful strike and popping out of invisibility. The half-orcs eyes open wide and their shouts are suffocated by the silence spell.
JJ dashes forward, striking at the guard in blue.
The dwarf moves forward before Kythel can attempt to hold one. Knowing that sch an action may end his invisibility prematurely, Kythel opts to hold the spell for later believing that the group will make short work of these two guards and knowing that the silence will keep things quiet.
Kythel will enter climbing on the inside walls and stealthing around the room to the stairwell to peer up into it.
He will peer up those stairs.
Perception
JJ evens out Kikinnin with a powerful attack on the other guard, also coming out of invisibility.
Kythel gets inside the hall climbing up the walls without being unnoticed.
You do think the butterflies and music are not real but the product of magic. Otherwise, you do not notice anything out of place.
The guard retaliates on JJ while he shouts, his throat emitting no noise!
The axe opens a gash on JJ's right arm.
AC = 31
HP = 160/160
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel
Condition(s) = Silenced
Kikinnin presses the slim advantage, weirded out a little for the lack of battle noise. He attacks Red, hoping that his first swing sends the half-orc to the floor, so he can step a little closer to Blue and bring the second guard down before anything crazy can ignite.
edit:
The black beard brings his Axe to bear on whoever is still standing, after the others level their own attacks coming through the door...
JJ unloads on the guard in front of him, swinging Alakast in a series of brutal strikes. First from the left, and then from the right. Down on the guards head and then up... Even JJ winces a little at that one.
-4 to hit, non lethal
+2 to hit and damage from FE
Net -2 to hit +2 to damage
Damage is non lethal
Knowing his black powder weapons will only alert half the city to their intent, Maxim instead draws his trusty Wand of Magic Missiles and covers the exterior of the building, lest all hell break loose...
Marigold's Surprise Round
Taking advantage of the open door, the silence, and her invisibility, Marigold hustles through the door of the mansion and steps into the corner just next to Kikinnin. Her eyes sweep over the entrance hall as she works to gain an understanding of what's happening and what threats lurk...
Maxim holds himself against the exterior wall, making sure the street remains quite while readying his trustful wand.
Marigold goes in while trying to hold a low profile.
Kikinnin opens a gash on the half-orc right hand just before he swings up and decapitates the guard. His corpse falls to the ground headless while a river of blood floods out of the open neck.
The dwarf steps forward then and strikes in rapid succession with JJ.
The young man halfling strikes with Alakast thrice, cracking bones and leaving ugly bruises.
With an unnatural orcish ferocity, the last guard refuses to fall without a fight.
The half-orc makes another cut on JJ just before finally collapsing to the floor bleeding.
2x +1/+1 orc double axe
2x mwk light crossbow
2x +2 chainmail
4x magical potions
Potion of cure moderate wounds.
Butterflies fly around the now calm hall. The direction forward is not clear certainly, with many doors and a set of stairs as possible follow ups.
JJ drags the two bodies to the corner, and hides them among the shrubbery - hopefully making it not too obvious that something is amiss. He is more than happy to remove magical items from them and put them in his magical bag.
"Anyone know what these bottles do?" he asks, flexing his arm where the axe had cut it.
Kythel inspects the doors at the far side of the room, listening for voices on the other side, then checking the door for possible traps. He figures that Marigold and Maxim have always been more reliable on what magic items are what since he joined the group. He is still of course, on the wall next to the door and not on the floor.
Perception - Listen
Perception - Detect Traps
He communicates through the Mindlink, "I am at the far doors, next to them on the wall, there appearsto be no trap on this door. I listened by the stairs but heard nothing coming from above that way".
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Maxim shrugs his shoulders at JJ's question;
"Sorry Surabar, ain't gonna waste my Dee-tect Magic on a couple o' vials. Maybes Lil' Miss can help out?"
The gun-mage taps one of the corpses with his boot and a wry smile;
"Now if I was the cunning type and had me a magical hat that allowed disguises I'd be assuming the appearance o' one o' these mooks. Now we know what they're countenance is like. Wander these lower rooms and get a feel fir what's what, an' whose who, afore we ascend them there stairs..."
"Oh, good thinking Maxim." smiles JJ, not at the least offended by the excellent suggestion.
The halfling quickly changes form to become a Fearsome Orcish Warrior.
On a closer inspection JJ also finds a key on each of the corpses. By the size, it should open a small lock, not a big one. The half-orcs are relocated to a comfortable place behind a plant on the corner.
Kythel founds no traps and listens no voice, but he does definitely hear some dishes clinging one each other.
JJ is now, apparently, a fierce half-orc.
He communicates through the Mindlink, "I hear some dishes clinging to each other. Either they are toasting or washing them through here".
While he's still quiet, Kikinnin begins opening doors, counterclockwise, starting with the door he's guarding. He expects to become noisy quickly, so he presses to explore, while the others loot the guards.
JJ pours a small bit of one potion onto a finger and licks it.
Then, quickly downs the whole drink.
"Much better"
Kikinnin starts to open doors near the entrance.
This cozy chamber has a pair of velvet-lined divans, each decorated with a soothing floral motif. Roses and violets grow from the carpet around each, and the air is scented with their fragrance. A delicate end table sits next to each divan.
The roses and scent in the air are illusions.
This large chamber has a hardwood floor polished to a glass-like sheen. A huge banquet table, its surface covered with blue silk cloth, sits in the middle of the room. Place settings for a dozen people have been laid out, and a towering mahogany silverware hutch sits against the east wall. To the south, a massive marble fireplace looms, a fire burning merrily within. Several small statuettes sit on the mantel.
The statuettes on the mantel are all of cavorting nymphs and satyrs, depicted in shocking poses. There are seven statuettes in all.
The statuettes are made of silver and gold, each worth 500 gp.
"There are the stairs up..." gestures JJ.
"I'll take the lead, ushering up guests. Or would you prefer to try those last main gates in the yard first?"
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Though she knows time is of the essence, Marigold also knows that sometimes the eccentric rich squirrel away important things in unlikely places. When Kikinnin moves on from the small drawing room, Marigold moves to the door and peers inside.
[Oh, they're using illusions to make the place seem prettier and more fragrant. The things people spend their money on!]
She takes a few quick moment to rifle through the end tables and probably finds some fancy-looking things or doodads, but isn't really able to determine if any of it actually valuable or if its just for show.
[No important documents in here, it looks like.]
Marigold then moves to stand next to Kikinnin, peering into the fancy dining hall.
[Yikes! Why do people like that sort of stuff in their homes?] she broadcasts, blushing a bit as she catches sight of the shocking statuettes.
[Bunch of slob-art if you ask me...]
Appraise
Appraise
We should open these last doors before we head up, as I said, I hear activity behind them.
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Maxim moves into the drawing room first, casting an appreciative eye o'er the opulence;
He nods, clearly impressed as he checks on the desk, opening an drawer...
"Mighty nice in here. Could see me in such an abode, enjoyin' a tincture an' some good tabac. Writing set in here got gilt leaf paper... Worth 500 Suns... to the right buyer."
The gun-mage then moves into the dining room alongside the others and appraises its contents;
"Hot dang! Place looks like it were decorated with Surabar's imagination! Risque statuettes an' the like! Worth a penny too... Silverware reckon would go fir 1,400 Suns. Each o' JJ's sassy statues got to be worth 500 Suns each..."
JJ confirms the stairs in the dinning room actually go up. He hears what seems a tender melody of violin and flute combination, and smells to roses or other flowers.
Following his counter-clockwise guard, Kikinnin goes after the doors pointed by Kythel. Before the dwarf opens them, they swing themselves as if pushed by an invisible hand and let you see the interior of the kitchen.
This is a well-stocked and well organized kitchen. Large tables for food preparation fill the central area, and the walls are covered with counters and cupboards. A massive marble fireplace sits against the west wall.
halfling servants are toiling in here, probably preparing for their mistresses' next meal. Both are formally dressed and look well taken care and feed.
There is something strange about these halflings. Something in their appearance and behaviour is mismatched but you cannot tell exactly what.
The maid in front turns to you and asks "Who are you? What do you want?"
Having lost his silent shroud, Kikinnin remains in the doorway. "Sorry, I was looking for the loo. Any chance you could show me? Don't want to keep the Lady of the House waiting too long."
Perception
"Ware Kikinnin, something is off about these Halflings!"
Kythel will begin to crawl around the wall to try and cut off the stairs at the back of the room.
The maid looks at Kikinnin and remains silent. The cooker blinks for some seconds then speaks up "Why did you not ask Blackspine and Wormspit? The guests' bathroom is the first door to the left going upstairs on the southern tower" the halfling points towards the tower at the entrance hall, then up.
Upon hearing the servants speak and then Kythel's warning, Marigold moves to stand a few paces directly behind Kikinnin and also to where she can see into the kitchen, somewhat. She stares hard at the one halfling she can sort of see, trying to figure out what might be amiss...
I don't have room for them in my apartment.. thinks JJ at Maxim.
And I'm not sure that Sara would approve of them. Actually... I'm not sure I approve of them.
Looking upward he adds
Sound of violins up there. Either they are trying to stop anyone overhearing what they are saying, or that is not where the business is being conducted.
Kikinnin thinks quickly to those who can hear him, in the caverns of their minds.
"So, these two are risks. They could easily announce our presence. JJ, we might need you to take out one of these halflings-not-halflings."
"Ware Kikinnin, something is off about these Halflings!"
He doesn't relish his next move. He eyes the stairs in the back, the true problem at hand, and sizes up the halfling maid in front of him, the one not speaking.
"Ready, Kythel. You'll need to stop the other. Get to the stairs."
The black beard twists his Axe in his hand, allowing the flat of the blade to address the maid's noggin. Then he swings down to black her eyes.
Kikinnin recklessly hits the halfling maid with the side of his axe. But instead of falling knocked down unconscious, the figure suddenly melts in a pile of snow.
The other halfling opens his eyes wide like dishes and runs towards the stairs hitting the invisible figure of Kythel and falling down to his ass "Y-you are not guests of the Lady!"
You identify the melted corpse of the halfling like a simulacrum a duplicate of another person made with the energy of the shadow plane and mater of the material plane. Whatever halfling was the base for the copy might still be alive... or dead.
Maxim joins the "warrior in orcs clothing" and nods towards their set of stairs with a wry smile;
"Sounds like the others been found out Surabar. Reckon we either go up and cause a ruckus o' our own... Or we wait here an' deal with anyone, or anythin' that comes down..."
"Best we go join them. " decides JJ.
"We don't know the layout of this area, and I'd hate to get separated."
He does cast a last look at the statues however.
"You think Sara would like that?" he asks, as he hurries off toward the ratcatcher.
Kikinnin flusters a little as the halfling maid becomes something wholly other than unconscious. It takes him a moment to recognize the second halfling on the floor.
He shuffles over to the prone servant, hopefully in time to meet him fully standing. Looking at his Axe, he performs the same action- knock him... into snow?
"Someone care to explain what... that... is?" The black beard points his Axe at the pile of snow.
Marigold's eyes widen as the halfling maid just sort of collapses into a pile of wet slush after Kikinnin's strike. She hustles into the kitchen area, scooting past JJ as she does.
"N-no idea..." she whispers aloud as she stares down at the snow. "B-but clearly s-some sort of m-magic is at work..."
Now even more suspicious than usual, Marigold murmurs a few words and begins looking around the kitchen for any other magical auras that seem out of place.