"Once everyone is awake, we should get to the building."
Panish looks about a bit disheveled, "Did I mention I'm not a morning person? Let's get this over with, I'm not in the mood for talking we can just go in and take the justice to them." Panish looks sullen a moment, while his own words start sinking in, then he proceeds "I'm sorry, it's the morning speaking - this hour isn't made for me."
You gear up and get moving, the fog clings to you, the air is freshest you've smelled, the fog pulling the scent of smoke, death and refuse out of the air. You travel from lantern to lantern, reaching All the World's Meat, before dawn. The streets are very quiet in the early morning hours.
"Company halt. So now we wait for some kind of shipment of livestock to be slaughtered? What kind?"
Marra sighs, getting tired of this guardsman's inability to adapt. "We're supposed to be quiet, and not give away that we're connected to the city...so as not to alert Vandercaskin..."
Still grumbling unhappily, though the frisk morning breeze does its part to return the liveliness of Panish. "We should probably split into two groups to properly keep an eye on the place. We don't know from which side the shipment is coming, nor which way it will enter the place. Unless, of course, there is one vantage point that allows us to see all major entrances to the place." Glancing over to Aliandara, "You should know, what do you suggest?"
"Perhaps, but the livestock would have to come from outside the city - the animals would not take kindly to transport by wagon or tunnel. Regardless, we should be able to either see something at the stock entrance - or hear something from the butchery itself. Maybe Aliandara should reprise her role as lowly beggar and keep a close ear to the wall behind the All World's Meat. The rest of us can keep a lookout on the likely entrance for cargo or livestock."
Aliandara beams “I think that is an excellent idea, don’t want to waste this pretty outfit now do we “ as she gestures to the beggars outfit she is already wearing. “
"Sounds good. I am a little curious as to where they get this free meat. I had thought all the usual supplies had dried up due to the rioting."
Sgt. Drakus takes off his distinctive helm and shield and throws a cloak on to look like just another man-at-arms.
Drakus:
Everyone make a Perception: (Sound Based) please
Perception:
Perception
Perception (+2) =12
Perception
Aliandara
You all hear cowbells as some drovers approach with 2 cows, and some goats. You also hear some conversation between the guards and the drovers, "The building is up ahead."
Panish keeps his voice low, "Shall we take a closer look at the wares?"
"Did you hear that? I think I hear some chopping inside. Could this be their second delivery?"
Marra turns her head toward the building and listens again. "No, all I hear is the drovers." She whispers
"Chopping?"
Sgt. Drakus frowns in thought.
"Why would they be chopping...Before...the livestock arrives?"
"Oh grow up, it's probably just the early cuts from the cold storage. Let's get this over with - maybe the day can be salvaged with some Varisian ham." Panish visibly lightens up at the prospect. "I say we take a look inside and get these ill-forebodings out of the way."
Marra looks at Pannish quizzically "Cold Storage? That place doesn't have a basement..."
"Aliandara, why don't you get a closer look."
From the sounds of it, the drovers have arrived at the Livestock gate on the side of the building. You hear "Oi! We 'ere wit de 'livry!" a few seconds pass, you hear "Hold on!" as the bar is lifted off the gate, and they pull the gate open through the muck of the pen.
"Olroight, that'll be 3 crown for each o'th heffers, and 1 crown fer each o'th goats. And 10 crowns fer the trouble..."
"WHAT? twenty crowns? For 2 diseased cows and 4 skinny goats...? You're insane!"
"Oi'm sure oi'culd foind me a buyer fer that...'ungry people round 'ere...'ungry people oi say"
"Keep it down, get the livestock in here, we got a lot of work t'do still."
"Fine!, here's your 20 crowns."
"Olroight, pleasur do'in bi'ness wit'cha gents. Pleasur, Oi say..."
[i] You all realize that those prices are very steep, especially if the livestock isn't in prime condition. And they're giving the meat away...
Now it is Panish's turn to look puzzled. "A butchery without a cold room? But the carcasses need to hang for weeks before the meat is good."
"Oh look. Things are getting good - if ever there was a time to bother a suspicious butcher, now be it."
Aliandara sighs " This isn't getting us anywhere; I will just go in like I tried yesterday and ask for meat then see where that gets me this time ". Aliandara looks around to see if she spots any other people awaiting the butchery's charity and then approaches the front door of the shop.
Aliandara sighs " This isn't getting us anywhere; I will just go in like I tried yesterday and ask for meat then see where that gets me this time ". Aliandara looks around to see if she spots any other people awaiting the butchery's charity and then approaches the front door of the shop.
The shop is still closed in the wee hours of the morning. Another hour or so til sun-up.
You approach the door, and over the gated fence area you hear:
Quietly: "I'll see if I can get them to open up - or at least distract them - you guys go see if you can find an opportunity to capitalize."
Panish puts on an easy smile and approaches the livestock fence. Loudly, "Greetings to All the World's Meat! May Iomedae request a delivery of meats?"
If Panish gets some attention, he'll attempt to negotiate a deal on behalf of the temple of Iomedae to secure a shipment of one expertly butchered cow to the benefit of the Iomedaen women's sanctuary. If the mood turns sour he'll try to relax the atmosphere ("...I could go for all the world's mead myself...").
Aliandara sees this as an opportunity to try and climb the building to the second floor, as the people are either busy with Panish or the new live stock or the chopping inside on the first floor.
Stealth:
Perception:
Climb:
As Panish approaches the door, Aliandara moves quiet as a cat around the outside of the building, she begins to climb the building, as she reaches the top, she makes a mistake she hadn't made in years, she forgot how slick the tiles would be in the early morning fog. Aliandara slips, a knocking a tile into the mud below with a squish it lands, Aliandara dangles by a single hand.
Meanwhile, at the front door, Panish waits, until the door opens, and the ugly deserter stands there, covered in blood; holding a large cleaver in his meaty fist.
"Whut you want?" he bellows.
"Greetings to All the World's Meat! May Iomedae request a delivery of meats?" Panish says in a bright cheerful voice.
"Priest huh..." You see his eyes shift around, a sure sign of thinking up a lie. Then he speaks after a few seconds. "Dis meat 'as already been bought priest, Mebbe y'kin come t'morrer and we kin arrange fer a d'liv'ry."
Marra, having followed at a distance behind Aliandara to watch over her, Falcata drawn, glistening with condensation of the fog, almost let out a little yelp as Aliandara slipped. She held her tongue, reminding herself to maintain the silence.
Hanging by one hand Aliandara attempts to get her balance and pull herself back up again, being careful to get both hands in position and trying to get some grip for her feet. All the while still looking for a window she might be able to infiltrate the place through.
"Ah, you seem to be a hardworking man. There is no need to be apprehensive. Iomedae not only requires this meat for charity - she understands that in this time of distress and need it is important to compensate your efforts generously."
With those words Panish briefly shows a small purse that hangs heavily in his hand before stowing it back inside his cloak.
If Panish senses that the butcher will invite him inside due to awakening greed, then he will follow along continuing the litany below. Otherwise he will try to slip past the man in a goodhearted way before the man realizes Panish's intentions by continuing his litany: "Iomedae not only bids me to pay handsomely, I can aid this honorable establishment with divine favor: by helping to stave of decay and keeping the meat in gentle repose you can sell finer meat that will last longer."
"Ah, you seem to be a hardworking man. There is no need to be apprehensive. Iomedae not only requires this meat for charity - she understands that in this time of distress and need it is important to compensate your efforts generously."
With those words Panish briefly shows a small purse that hangs heavily in his hand before stowing it back inside his cloak.
If Panish senses that the butcher will invite him inside due to awakening greed, then he will follow along continuing the litany below. Otherwise he will try to slip past the man in a goodhearted way before the man realizes Panish's intentions by continuing his litany: "Iomedae not only bids me to pay handsomely, I can aid this honorable establishment with divine favor: by helping to stave of decay and keeping the meat in gentle repose you can sell finer meat that will last longer."
Sollus/Sarge what are you doing?
Aliandara:
Panish:
I was waiting for the scouts to signal the rest of us forward. I'm not much of an undercover guy.
|
If Sollus is near enough to Panish to hear / view what is going on, there's no way he's comfortable with the man entering alone, so he'd be tempted to wait for him to enter and then charge in before the door closes, either fumbling some lame excuse about getting left behind by his 'friend' or all guns blazing, depending on the situation...
To the Sergeant, he whispers, hand clenched until his knuckles are white on his loaded crossbow. "Enought skulking about. We need to get in there, and I don't care how much violence is needed. I fear that they are butchering people, not livestock..."
Panish proceeds to keep his new butcher friend occupied with honeyed words, subtly moving himself into the door - but not beyond its threshold. He tries to position himself in such a way to make the butcher face away from Drakus and Sollus; and proceeds to stall for time. ("I know it is a tremendous burden at this time of mayhem and lawlessness - but I'm trying hard to give the women and children in Iomedae's sanctuary the illusion of a steady and secure life. Something more than a gruel, something to remind them of better times - to this end, is it at all possible that this house can cater with a Varisian ham, or possibly a honeyed dry-cured ham?")
He's been in there how long with no signal?
Impatient, Sgt. Drakus moves from the alleyway to the door. When he gets there he will enter unannounced.
Seeing Drakus approaching, Panish steels himself for a potential struggle - determined not to stand down his ground on the threshold of the door.
** spoiler omitted **
Panish states, "I know it is a tremendous burden at this time of mayhem and lawlessness - but I'm trying hard to give the women and children in Iomedae's sanctuary the illusion of a steady and secure life. Something more than a gruel, something to remind them of better times - to this end, is it at all possible that this house can cater with a Varisian ham, or possibly a honeyed dry-cured ham?"
The guardsmen's eyes narrow, as his greed is overshadowed by the chink in the story, "Did you say Sanctuary?" As he sees Drakus appearing through the fog. He bolts for the back of the shop, yelling..."We got us some Meddlers."
Panish mutters to himself "Oh by Iomedae's beard..." then motions to Drakus and Sollus to speed-up their advance. Panish draws his sword and readies his shield, his lips soundlessly mouthing an Inheritor's blessing.
Panish mutters to himself "Oh by Iomedae's beard..." then motions to Drakus and Sollus to speed-up their advance. Panish draws his sword and readies his shield, his lips soundlessly mouthing an Inheritor's blessing.