Red muses, "A map of the sewers combined with a couple halfling servitors scouting the location of the target might be effective."
"I can easily disguise myself as one of the servants. I usually kill anyone whose identity I take, but that seems like it might cause too much suspicion in this case. How do we remove the people we're going to impersonate during the time that we impersonate them? Also, what if the halfling slaves aren't allowed to leave the prison?"
Mama sighs. "As far as I know, they aren't.
"I'm sure they add new slaves from time to time...but I'm also quite sure that new additions will be watched very closely. And I'm not sure if there's an identity that either you or I could adopt that would reasonably be able to leave the Citadel."
"What about magical means of ingress? With the proper spells or potions we could fly in, invisibly and make our way to the cell. Kill everyone we meet on the way there, and then get the target. It would be expensive..."
Kage raises his voice, "Mantisis what are Asmodeans famous for? Following orders unflinchingly to the letter! An admirable trait, but one that can be suborned... With the right papers they will let us in, and if the papers say the man is to be harshly interrogated then killed, they will willingly help. Moreover they will escort us out again..."
Kage starts pacing, "But how to achieve this? Such a forgery will be very hard. Perhaps somebody with the authority to interrogate can be persuaded? Sure by reputation the hellknights are disciplined and impossible to bribe or corrupt. Most of them are zealouts in truth but they are still human and therefore susceptible to all the vices in the world: Drugs, sex and scandal. We just need to find the correct lever. Our target, a torturer is likely to be more flaky than the rank and file, with perverse interests and an unhealthy dose of pride. This man is being resistant? Perhaps we should offer specialist help..."
"That is a great idea actually. One of us take the place of a Lictor and the others walk in right behind them invisible."
Vespid sits silently, taking in the planning. She waits for a lull in the conversation, then says, It will take us two days to reach Egorian. I will supply you with identities if you wish to allow you to travel through the city freely. You will also each receive a stipend of five hundred Thrunish crowns for expenses. So you have some time in which to plan. She stands up to leave, but pauses.
Oh, I should say that there is a curious rumor going around Egorian that the Order of the Scourge is building a redoubt in the nearby Barrowood, with an underground access to Citadel Demain. I do not know the veracity of that rumor, so make of it what you will. Also, a conclave of Hellknight orders is scheduled six days from now at that very fortress, so the citadel will likely get very crowded in short order.
Before she leaves, she turns and nods her head slightly. I look forward to working with you all.
Kage considers Mistress Vespids words and suggests, "There will be a lot of unfamiliar faces in town. Perhaps that makes impersonating a Lector, or suborning one easier. On the other hand we could easily get caught out if our timing is bad."
Eris is shaken from her thoughts but the introduction of Sa'Kage's idea, and turns it over in her mind.
"You are quite right, we could simply find a pressure point which would allow us to get in...assuming we could find out who is conducting the interrogation".
Eris thinks some more, before abruptly pulling over the picture of Pontia Runario, looking over it absently, before idly form shifting into her, holding the position for a moment, before shifting into her previous form. "We should potentially invest in HellKnight attire at the very least if we want to infiltrate."
"I have a hat of disguise that I normally use. It won't work if someone touches you, but otherwise its fine."
Kiddrik has sat quietly during most of the brainstorming, frowning at the scroll with the Citadel on it.
Finally, he speaks up, ”I don’t have any better plans about getting in, but the Barrowood may provide a secondary exit strategy should our plans go awry. Knowing how to leave by a secondary exit that our enemies don’t know we know exists may prove useful, indeed. While we’re investigating, let’s see if we can verify the veracity of the report of the underground passage … as well as what it would take to escape the Barrowood from within.”
"That's also a great idea. I like working on a team already," Yamyra says, grinning. "We'll have plenty of time to plan during the trip. Let's get going?"
Kiddrik nods and gives the chipper halfling a reserved smile. Then, he turns to Vespid, "Are we traveling on this ship? If so, where are our quarters?"
The Mantises quickly learn that the Bantu Wind has already left and was making best speed along the Chelish coastline. They have a day aboard the ship to rest and plan before disembarking and traveling overland to Egorian.
Eris herself favours the standard "take the form of something that can get in, wander around a building with the relevant information, gathering information then walk out.
Not saying thats what she should do, but thats usually her go to method of doing recon.
Kage suggests, "Our Lector will need papers. Perhaps one of the many visitors can be persuaded to provide these? Maybe they need our services, or maybe they need to vanish... Chances are a visitor won't be missed quickly. We should focus our efforts on finding the right Lector to impersonate."
Egorian, the City of Thorns, is an imposing metropolis of dark stone buildings and looming shadows. The Mantis infiltrate the city quietly, separately, and discretely. Several locations within the city are spots where the Red Mantis have influence, and can be used for information drop points and staging areas, or entrances to hidden corridors.
The inn called the Dancing Knave, in the Triumph, is one such location. Lead in the mortar protects the inhabitants from scrying and false walls allow for secret egress and tight alibis.
Kage prowls around his tiny attic room in the Dancing Knave feeling uncharacteristically restless. The long sea voyage and the storms they had skirted had been rough for his stomach - although he had been too proud to let on. Feeling the need feel the embrace of the night air, he checks the tiny window leading up into the roof.
Not finding any obvious traps, he flips the latch open and climbs up for a better view of the City. The moon hangs low overhead spreading a wan light across the lake of sorrows, dotted here and there by the brighter lights of fishing boats and brighter lights from the various inns, brothels and temples. Dominating the skyline was the Midnight Temple of Asmodeus. Kage considered that brooding edifice, where every ninth week nine slaves where ritually sacrificed at the stroke of midnight, finding it too showy for his tastes.
The noise from the brothel over the road rose to a crescendo as a group of drunken revelers stumbled out. Realizing he was silhouetted against the skyline, Kage flattened himself against the roof and watched them pass. It would be so easy to drop down and end them, but that didn't feel right. Freelancing wasn't sanctioned by the guild...
No something would come up, his talents would be in demand in such a city. There where proper channels through which one such as he could find work. Channels which his new found colleges where currently investigating. Soon he would be needed, but for now he had to wait...
There is a general pall over the city -- a city of regimented law hosting the most fanatical adherents to order. Much of the talk of the town involves the various groups of Hellknights descending upon Egorian.
Most of the orders make Cheliax their base of power. Those few that have located outside the devil-worshipping nation are arriving with considerable pomp. There is a sense of the entire city holding its breath, minding its house, while its strict guests are in attendance or on their way.
@GM, can I use Bluff to weave a story to gather information, or is that outside of the skills ability?
@Eris: yes, that would be fine.
Eris immediately gets to work in the city, wandering through the streets, asking questions to anyone with a vague sort of interest, before form shifting quickly throughout the day, just in case someone was interested in who was asking so many questions about the Hellknights. As Eris works, she attempts to create interest in who are the specific players of the Hellknight Orders, starting with the lesser ranked Hellknights, before gradually, her questions began to deal with the Hellknights of a more senior rank, gradually building up a picture of their personalities, what they looked like, what they wore, where they lived, any vices and so on. It was tiring work, and Eris hated doing so much independently when she did not know if any servants of the Hellknights were interested.
Red finds the taverns where the guards and prison staff frequent. He drinks and watches... looking for the chatty and the braggards. He buys drinks for them and listens to the scuttlebutt... paying particular attention to any talk of the mystic defenses of the prison.
While on the Bantu Wind, the Mantises have the opportunity to pick Vespid's brain about what she knows about the various orders of Hellknights, and she provides a number of contacts to begin their search for the best way in to Citadel Demain.
Red finds it difficult to find chatty braggarts from Citadel Demain. However, he is able to find a few merchants with the rights to transports supplies to the fortress. They seem to guard their position jealously, and demand to know the names of whoever would extend them a gift.
Eris learns that Citadel Demain was built in its present configuration over 70 years ago on the site where the old fortress stood. The Order of the Rack produces a new, complete history of Cheliax every three months, and dutifully collects all the old volumes and burns them, so that there is no confusion. Therefore, any history of the citadel is difficult to ascertain beyond the current printing.
Red scoffs at the merchant. "A drinks a fair price for a spun yarn 'bout that hell-hole. You don't wanna drink? Suit yourself. My belly could do with another. You think I care how many hay bales you feed their damn horses?! Hawking goods ain't my business." Red doesn't need to feign his contempt for the merchant's paranoia, and nothing he's said is remotely a lie. "The name's Red. Good luck to ya." He toasts the merchant with the drink he'd previously offered him and downs it.
Mama Bess gets up at dawn, disguises herself as a courier-slave of a high-end baker, subtly dyeing her hair and adding a noticeable scar to her face. She brews an extract of Disguise Self to carry with her, in case she needs to change identities quickly...and an extract of Monkey Fish and one of Expeditious Retreat, in case she needs to get away fast. Her first stop is to a fine halfling baker, from whom she buys a large basket of fresh pastries to take with her. Then she sets out about town to gather what information she can.
Her first order of business is learning as much as she can about this rumored tunnel--most importantly the entrance to it, and secondarily anything about the work crews. She tries to find halfling workers (slaves or otherwise) to befriend and learn from, offering a warm listening ear and delicious pastries as useful.
Once she's found out as much as she figures she'll be able to about the tunnel, Mama looks for information about where the Order of the Rack's records/maps of the Citadel are. Assuming she finds a record hall, she also looks for information about hours and see if she can learn anything about how it’s
If she still has time--or opportunistically comes across a chance to learn more--she'll try to learn the identities of a few visiting paralictors and paravicars from any of the Scourge, Rack, or Scar orders, and where they are staying.
If throughout the day she ever feels she’s attracted too much attention, she’ll stop to redisguise herself (if she has time) or use her extracts (if she’s in a pinch).
At the end of her day, exhausted, long after sunset, she nonetheless is slow and methodical in looking for anyone who might be following her before she returns to the safehouse she's staying in, where she relays all she's learned to her family.
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Yamyra goes with Mama, disguised as her assistant. She attempts to assist in gathering whatever information she can.
Red scoffs at the merchant. "A drinks a fair price for a spun yarn 'bout that hell-hole. You don't wanna drink? Suit yourself. My belly could do with another. You think I care how many hay bales you feed their damn horses?! Hawking goods ain't my business." Red doesn't need to feign his contempt for the merchant's paranoia, and nothing he's said is remotely a lie. "The name's Red. Good luck to ya." He toasts the merchant with the drink he'd previously offered him and downs it.
The merchant throws up his hands in defense. Not my rules, but it is my livelihood. I think it has something to do with the security, but I have to give the names of everyone who offers me gifts. It's to stop smuggling, most likely.
For the first several hours, Bess and Yamyra have little success in investigating the rumored tunnel within the Barrowood. The only thing at first they learn is some generalities about the forest neighboring Egorian: that it is called such because of the numerous graves of failed, petty tyrants within; that there are no known settlements of civilized folk in the forest although there is an enclave of druids and a small group of elves, along with a number of tribes of savage races within. It's mostly known amongst the halfling community as a haven for escaped slaves and criminals, though whether they truly find sanctuary or a gruesome death to the forest's dangers is unknown.
Bess and Yamyra hit a breakthrough, however, and are able to make contact with a tiefling-blooded halfling calling himself Respite. He is one of those who try to free slaves and help them escape, and knows a bit about the Barrowood's geography -- mostly about safe, hidden trails for escaped slaves. There is definitely a sense of paranoia about him, since word of Portuni's capture has him jumping at shadows. But he remembers finding an escaped slave who spoke of a squat fortress being built in the Barrowood near the granite spire of rock known as Kulvayne's Lament.
Bess next learns, as Eris before her, that there are no reliable records publicly available regarding the structure or construction of Citadel Demain. Undeterred, she finds a few reformed criminals who, thanks to her genial nature and a few tasty pastries, are persuaded to talk about what their experiences within.
One former smuggler, who only survived his visit to the fortress by testifying against his brother, still bears the lash marks. He describes the three moats that ring the rising fortress, and what he saw within the murky waters. It was a serpentine creature with finlike wings, ram horns, four eyes, and arms that end in masses of tentacles. He shudders when describing it, and spoke of how his shackles suddenly seemed twice their weight when he walked across the bridge.
Another, who had his hands removed as punishment for petty thievery, talked about the bound devil that stared at him from the eaves of the citadel gate. She was terrible to behold, with large, ash-colored wings and a gaze that seemed to lay all his transgressions bare.
Inside the courtyard of Citadel Demain, there is a stage called the Confessional. An inner tower rises with barred windows facing the Confessional for prisoners to watch and consider their own deeds while trials or interrogations are conducted upon the grim stage.
After a number of dead ends and wasted time seeking names of the Hellknights arriving for the Conclave, Bess and Yamyra manage to find a troupe of entertainers who have managed to obtain some of the schedules of certain Hellknight personages.
From the Order of the Rack, Paravicar Darcyne Wrens has already arrived, and is staying at the Crown of Dis in Thorntown.
From the Order of the Scourge: The local commander of the Hellknights in the city of Egorian in Cheliax, is Ivo Elliendo, a driven, dour man who takes a personal interest in the goings on within the city. He has been credited with solving some of the most perplexing crimes in Egorian, and has little patience for outside interference.
Most of the Order of the Scourge reside in Citadel Demain, including present Lictor Toulon Vidoc, Master of Blades Uldrannas Haelcant, and Paravicar Orlayn Khorelos. Bess also learns Signifer Patronicus Drendane is visiting in Egorian from the Andoran border
Chafing at the need to do something, Kage suggests to his follow mantises that, "Even in such a purportedly lawful city like this, the services our order provides are needed for many smaller matters. Perhaps we should put some feelers out, if the right person is in need of our services, then they may be able to help us in kind. Perhaps by forging documents, or providing information on guard rotas or getting us get access to someplace we want to go. Maybe the intended corpse has some useful attire..."
Eris plans her approach carefully deciding that her preliminary mission should be to gain access to the citadel, or at least find a hell knight she could impersonate later. Her plan was two fold, but she wanted to carry them out seperately in order to decrease suspicion. Asking around for the justice building or nearby equivalent, Eris transforms into an attractive women with a slight low cut top. In general she avoided disguises that caught the eye, but in this case she actually wanted to look vulnerable. Before she enters the building she expertly rips her dress, and fixes her eyes to make them better look as if she had been crying. Her disguise complete, Eris enters the building in extreme distress, rushing to the nearest clerk, grabbing his hand and busting into tears. "Oh sir, you must help me, I was set upon by some truly vile individuals. They tore my dress, took my gold bracelet, and threatened do do even more had I not broken free. They had no shame and said the most despicable things to me. I even heard them threaten me with death as I ran around the corner and escaped, but i don't know who to ask to help me. I don't live her you see, and there are so many hellknight orders and I'm so terribly afraid that they might come back for me so please sir can you help me?". Eris stammers out her story, hoping that she might garner some sympathy as well as perhaps meet even a minor hell knight to size up.
Eris plays this situation for as long as required, but regardless of the outcome she moves on to the next stage of her information gathering mission. Returning to her room at the inn, she changes her dress and changes shape again into a slightly more businesslike younger female with a shred of papers and notes in a folder. Gone was her previously fearful and vulnerable air, now she is the picture of confidence. Heading towards a governmental building of records, Eris walks briskly up to the head clerk, and drops the folder of papers onto his desk with a satisfying thump. "I need access to the records, she says in a rather bored tone. It's a research assignment on the current law system, and exhaustive assignment which will eventually form the basis of my report, specifically on the hell knight orders. I need dates histories factual data and every other relevant data. If possible I would also like to be able to have a interview process with several available hell knights of a significant rank. For the sake of completeness I will also require a list of buildings currently in use of the legal system, there respective records of use, histories and plans largely for a record of assets list, as well as a seperate heritage building list. I expect that most of this should be generally accessible, but am certain that some information will have been outsourced to various hell knight headquarters for various reasons. Therefore I expect that I would need the contact details of a representative, or at least set up a meeting to ensure that I have access to the information I require.
It's amazing what you can type out in the back of a car on a phone these days although I do apologise for the sub-par formatting
Eris initially encounters some skepticism with her story about being attacked. She is immediately sent over to Pontia Runario to make her report. A slightly heavyset and powerfully-built woman in full plate, she looks like the drawing that was shown in the hold aboard the Bantu Wind.
While unfortunately not overly swayed by the damsel-in-distress routine, Eris's bluff finally begins to sway Runario, and she takes a small group of lower-ranking Hellknights into the streets of Egorian to try to seek out the assailants. Eris does get a good look at Runario, and is able to tell she seems to be a mixture of Chelaxian, Taldan and Varisian bloods, with a slightly darker skin tone than usually found in the heartland of Cheliax. She has thick, wavy dark hair and a steely expression.
Eris finds that the investigation process takes several hours and involves lots of paperwork. She is required to provide a description of her assailants and a detailed account of the attack. The investigation goes further into her purpose for being in Egorian, and her own identity, but thankfully the identities provided by Vespid endure the scrutiny without fail.
Surprisingly, Pontia Runario returns with three thugs in custody, each of which have an alarming resemblance to the ones described by Eris. While the bracelet is not found upon their person, they anticipate a few hours of questioning will reveal its location or whoever they fenced it to.
The next day, Eris's research project is hit with a wall of bureaucracy. While the information she seeks is available with the proper clearance (many of the law books are on a need-to-know basis), obtaining that clearance is a process that could take weeks. Despite spinning a few stories to try to expedite matters, unfortunately she is unable to penetrate the bureaucracy.
Did Eris get a glimpse of someone who does have the authority to have clearance to view the records? For instance is it possible for her to disguise herself as a humble keeper of the records or otherwise infiltrate the building
Yes, Eris would be able to do that. @Kage: You are not aware of anyone presently.
Returning to their safehouse that evening, Mama and Myra share all they've learned from their investigations.
"I think tomorrow some of us should try to investigate the tunnel. At the minimum, we should find the entrance. If possible, we should actually try to follow it and see what we see...either stealthily, while it's open, or returning when it's closed and attempting to bypass any locks and enter."
After a sip of hot tea with lemon she continues, "As far as which Hellknight to attempt to apprehend and impersonate, I suspect Paravicar Darcyne Wrens is a good candidate. She has already arrived, and is staying at the Crown of Dis in Thorntown. Would one or two of us want to stake her out and stealthily follow him? I'd think it's best not to strike but to see where she goes, who she's accompanied by, anything we can learn of her strengths and weaknesses, and if we see anything that might be to our advantage when we do strike...or that would dissuade us from choosing her as our target."
Turning to look at her gathered comrades, she says, "I suspect the tunnel investigation could use some stealth, and possibly some trapbreaking and or tracking. I'm good at the first two but not skilled at following tracks. I suspect having some strong combatants along could prove to be important as we traverse the Barrowwood.
"Staking out Wrens on the otherhand should require stealth and likely the ability to gather information.
"I'd be happy to be a part of either mission. Who is well suited to (and interested in) one in particular?"
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Kage nods at Mama Bess's ideas saying, "Master Brinn was of the opinion that a crew of 3 or 4 was best for surveillance, with the main watchers in plain sight and backup who can follow unseen. The watchers need to rotate disguises to avoid suspicion. I can work disguises, but I'm far better at moving unseen and following tracks. We should avoid unplanned confrontation with the Hell Knights but my presence may be needed if we encounter somebody who can't be persuaded with words alone..."