Armanus also watches on, concerned.
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Zyrel knots the rope around Kristleifur's waist and leg, makes it fast to the roof, and then waits, looking through possibilities for one where they do not fail.
"I suggest you put everything that might fall out in a pouch, and leave it in my bag." Zyrel whispers to the gnome "'as it will fall and clatter upon the stones below." a moment more "Also anything especially heavy, or delicate." another moment, and a sigh "Put the items you will need in your hands now." another "Ensure your boots are well buckled. I will tie off the rope so that if you do fall, you will not fall far; be prepared for the stop, so that it does not dislocate anything - and do not cry out. Should you be injured I will retrieve you and attend immediately." Finally, with a nod to himself, as much as his brave companion, he indicates for his companion to lie on the ground.
Carefully he stands, backpack in one hand, rope-attached gnome in the other, using the weights to counterbalance. His arms are spread wide, with the rope between them, running over his bracer as if a pulley, with his handgrip used to stop the rope, rather than lift the weight.
Turning slightly he moves his arms over the edge of the roof, Kristleifur moving with the rope to swing wildly over nothing for a moment. Slowly Zyrel brought his arms together, the rope feeding through and the gnome - now upside down - lowering closer to the window.
"Do you have enough rope?" he whispers quietly.
Hmmm - Given he can change his action based on his foresight, let's pick one where K doesn't die...
no
Sure. +9 for acrobatics. +2 for strength. Zyrel can deadlift 350lbs, if he has to. Endurance might be an issue, but he eats elf rations, which helps with that.
Elsa watches and smiles
Don't worry Aramanus, I have seen Zyrel's sort before. He's not likely to fall. she whispers
As for Kris, well, I suspect he'll be ok. although, it does look like he is being used as bait
"Let's all stop watching them, shall we, so we don't draw attention?" He motions to the end of the warehouse, farthest away from where they are setting up. "C'mon, we need to make a distraction. There's a door down there, when he's ready, we'll knock loud and demand our package."
Kristleifur nods in response to Zyrel's explanations, and replies, his whispers still somehow sounding excitable.
"Sounds good to me! I'm good to go!"
Trusting in his elf companion, the gnome focuses on breaching defenses.
Erick takes his sword and uses the handle to rap loudly on the door. "Hey, open up, I'm here to pick up my bosses package!" He bellows when Kris indicates he's ready to go to work. The rings on the sword add to the clatter he's making at the door, the one far from where Kris is working. "I don't have time for whoever's inside to put away the cards and whiskey, I don't care if you're idling your bosses money away instead of standing watch. I just need my package." He bangs on the door again with the hilt of his sword. He holds the sword by the blade, so that if someone opens the door, it's obvious he's using it as a door knocker, and not wielding it.
Elsa finds somewhere to hide.
Kris is able to easily shimmy down the rope as Erick starts making a distraction.
After a few tense moments, a bedraggled, middle-aged human man wearing scribe's clothes comes to the door. He says in a rather irritated voice, "What in the world are you talking about? I have no idea who you are, and even less of an idea who your boss is. And why do you feel the need to make such an awful racket?"
The man continues as Kristleifur fiddles with the window. The glass is somewhat poor quality, allowing for him to cut it with decent ease. The adhesive keeps the shards from falling and the gnome is even able to find the window latch and pop it open.
The bedraggled man is too busy chewing out Erick to notice any of it.
Kristleifur gives a tug on the rope and starts to clamber up.
"My boss..." "...has a package here, and he's sent me and my companion..." He nods toward Armanus, since the halfling vanished. "...to pick it up. It should have been sent to him already, but instead it's still waiting in the warehouse. So rather than wait another 3 weeks to get it, he sent us down to pick it up, since apparently someone can't coordinate handing it to a delivery person." Erick keeps his voice in his 'annoyed' range, which isn't hard, since he's rather annoyed at this sort of rigamarole in the first place. It should keep the interior guards that were patrolling listening in from the other side, and thus distracting them from Kris.
As soon as he feels the tug, Zyrel forces his arms wide, as if drawing a bow. The rope runs over his bracer and the agile burglar on the end starts to ascend.
Elsa quietly pulls out a vial of bottled lightning. Just in case. Still, things seem to be working out.
As soon as his feet are firmly planted again, the gnome takes out his small musket. And grins.
The man says, ”I haven’t the slightest idea who that is. Just give me the order number and I’ll try to sort something out.”
Nudging Zyrel, Kristleifur begins to quietly start making his way towards the office, while keeping an eye on the guards.
Erick grumbles. "Give me a minute, had a paper somewhere." He begins sorting through his pockets, pulling bits and pieces of paper he's collected over the years. His particular order, the order of the Book, collects paper like most Cavaliers collect sword and bullet scars, only more so.
"Recipe for Plomleek Stew... Fourteen curse words in Somorian to never use unless you want to fight... Map to the treasure of Salvarian the Lesser... How to make a Harvey Wallhammer... Dwarven drink, take the back of your head off..." And those are just the papers in his first pocket.
"Asmodeus, dammit, Erick!" Armanus barked. "Call yourself a messenger! Let me help!" The tiefling begins to 'help' Erick find his paper.
and now it gets difficult Elsa thought. She smiled. This reminded her of a few of the things she had done for the thieves guild back home.
Erick frowns at Armanus. "Now now, watch that piece of paper! It's one half of an explosive runes trap, and if you look at it and the other half at the same time, we'll all be center of a fireball the size of this warehouse." Erick grumbles in his best grumbly voice, snatching a scrap of paper from Armanus that has an old grocery list of his written in draconic on it.
Zyrel checks the rope is well anchored, and slowly lowers himself over the roof, wincing at the faint noise of the rope rubbing on the roof from his weight; compared to his silent companion he moved like an elephant. As he descended his familiar sailed silently through the missing window and perched within.
The man grumbles, [b]"You contractors are always hopeless. If you don't have the order number, you can come with me to the office and we can try to sort things out.
Working together, Kristleifur and Zyrel are able to coordinate their movements toward the office, Zyrel spotting for the movements of the guards and Kristleifur sneaking through the building. He is able to make his way to the office before realizing that the door to it is securely locked.
did he say they were going to his office. Oh dear elsa thought, now looking at the window of entry
Kristleifur has his considerably compact tools to hand, and is quietly fiddling with the lock.
Nearly into the office!, he messages cheerily as he works.
Using the opportunity to warn Kris, Erick wills the whisper spell to pass on his words as he speaks them aloud. "No need to be upset, sirrah. While I'm sure your office is much nicer than the doorway, I'm certain I'll find the paper if you'll give me a moment, I will try to hurry up though since you're in a hurry to get to your office. Please do be patient."
Zyrel waits patiently, carefully tracking the progress of those below from the catwalk.
"I think I have it!"
The man sighs and says, "Just find it soon. I'm sure it's back in the office. I don't want this to take more time than it has to. I'm real tight on time."
Kristleifur still isn't quite able to get the door open. With another attempt though, he finally manages to pop the lock and get inside. The room is simple, with a set of cabinets, a wooden rolling chair and desk, and a window. Thankfully, the window has a set of wooden blinds pulled down, obscuring the small man.
"I'm in! Quiet in here for now."
Kristleifur quietly closes the door behind him and starts moving about the office, using the blinds and desk itself for concealment from outside.
"I'll tell you if anyone is coming" Zyrel sends back
After a bit of searching, Kristleifur is fairly sure that he’s found the right papers, held together by a length of string. Looking through it, he finds the contract, the original order, and an unmarked envelope.”[/b]
"Found the envelopes, snatching the lot!", the gnome messages with his usual enthusiasm.
He then oh-so-quietly begins to extricate himself from the room through the door, closing it slowly behind him.
The party faintly hears from inside the building, "Whoever the hell you are, tell me what you're doing right now!" The bedraggled man narrows his eyes and says, "Wait a minute. What is going on in there? Do you know anything?"
Elsa moves to beside the door, moving as quietly as possible.
Er - just realised I don't know where everyone is. The map is good, but doesn't seem to have everyone.
Vaguely considering shooting Kris with the grappling arrow (to hook him, not kill him) and then grabbing the rope and driving out the window. With the rope anchored at the top and then gnome, and Zyrel's weight in the middle, that could mean Kris is propelled to the window at speed.
Otherwise, not sure who has line of sight...
Sorry
"Problem." Zyrel sends, tersely.
"Do I know anything about what?" He looks around. Then he narrows his eyes at the man. "What is this? Are you trying to get out of giving me the package? This some sort of scam? Maybe I should call the city guard, and have them go through your warehouse with a fine tooth comb. I'm sure you don't have anything questionable in there." He turns to Armanus. "Get this guy? Trying to weasel out of giving us our package. Where was the city guard? Let's call them in, since there's something going on." He rolls his eyes, his voice dripping sarcasm. "I'm sure they'd love to go through the warehouse and every crate in it, see what's going on in there, don't you?" Erick bets on the fact that if they have that many guards, there's contraband in there. Even the best warehouses usually don't want the city guards mucking about with their inventories, just in case something isn't what's on the label.
"Seen! I'll try fooling them.
"Got curious, then got lost. Where is this?"
The guard says, "I ain't buyin' that. Now come out here so I can see you, and tell me why you're really here. I don't want to shoot, but I will."
The man scowls, "The Gunworks is one of the most secure businesses in Alkenstar. Besides, our guards are on the city payroll. If you'll excuse me, I have to see what's going on inside. Whatever's going on in there could mean your shipment is in danger as well."
Elsa moves with her back to the wall. If there is a barrel or something, she will hide behind it.
Erick scowls, and nods. "Yeah, don't let anything happen to that shipment." He says, letting concern show now, allowing him to drop the bluff. Real concern is better anyway, and it appears the original bluff worked.
Once the man turns and goes back in, he turns to the side and whispers into the spell. "Kris, get out now. Dive through the office window if you have to, and drop the paper where Elsa can pick it up as you run off. Do not kill the guards, not only are they doing their job, but they're on the city payroll, meaning we'd be getting the entire watch after us. Zyrel, get off that roof now and evade. Do not engage, repeat, do not engage."
Got it! I'm going!
"Wellnicetomeetyoubutihavetogonowbyebye!", says the gnome in a flurry of words as he begins to dash towards the window he entered from!
Zyrel easily shimmies out the window, smoothly climbing the rope. As Kristleifur runs, a shot flies by his head as he hears a man's voice shout, "Now what in the world in this commotion?" By that time, however, Kristleifur is already climbing out of the building after Zyrel.
The group outside sees Zyrel and Kristleifur come running around the corner of the building, a sheaf of papers in the small man's hand.
"Fine, we'll be back in the morning, bright and early!" Erick yells through the door, and walks off in a huff.
When they are all back together later, he shakes his head. "Kris, I think you need to keep a low profile tomorrow, take the day off, enjoy some pastries at the local pastry shop."
Armanus turns on his heels and follows Erick out of the vicinity. "By The Gods! I can't believe that worked. Excellent job, cavalier."