A Song for Silver Ravens (Hell's Rebels AP) (Inactive)

Game Master Sensen

When Vantine is filled in on The Raven's misadventures she's sort of obliged to protest his recklessness. But she's also trying to hide a smile, impressed with his sauciness.

Aisling has no trouble bein disaproving of the Raven, but it's not clear whether it's of his actions or the man himself. "You are useful to have around in a fight, but if we dont stick together we will all be excruciated separately."

Nyxra fixes the Raven with a genuine glare of annoyance.

The Raven smirks, drawing the dagger and holding it hilt-first towards Jessibel. "I cannot help it. It is in my nature to touch pretty things. As a matter of fact, as ravens, it is in all our nature. Besides, she was not using the blade." His voice is mirthful, but he feels a bit down. A happy reunion after a successful theft reminds him of his youth and friends he used to have. Still, he had accomplished his goal of getting rid of the CCG without bloodshed. "Were you ladies able to find out what those louts wanted?"

Jessibel can't remain angry at the Raven for long...especially when he returns bearing a gift. "For me?" she asks, taking the dagger and testing its weight and balance. Then she excitedly tells the vigilante about the conversation with the bleached gnome shopkeeper.

"So, this Spider's Bite shop is near the Salt Gate, not far from the salt works," she concludes. "Maybe we can investigate it while we're in the neighborhood. Anyone know anything about alchemy?"

"Uh, maybe, on second thought, we ought to wait until after we come up with a full plan to break those Rose Ladies out of the salt works."

"Alchemy, hmm?" The Raven mutters in a mock deep-in-thought tone. "It just so happens that I know of an organization that is accepting donations of alchemical items. We could do a little shopping before we visit the Saltworks again." He winks at Vantine.

I did not originally intend on the Raven stealing anything that isn't nailed down.

"Maybe some of those tanglefoot bag things might come in useful, if we're planning on not using lethal force on these scum," Jessibel suggests. "Let's take this plan step-by-step: First we'll need to deal with the two guards outside. Maybe with a distraction? A pretty girl who's had too much to drink and gotten lost might work, but we'd need to take them both out fast before they can raise an alarm. Once they've been eliminated, maybe we could don their armor as disguises, take their places, and maybe worm our way inside somehow."

"Why don't we go inside where it's warm? Going through all of this is going to take a while and I'm cold. How about the bookstore we went to with Rexus the day we met him? It's not that far."

Haha! Oops! Fixed now. Thanks Nyxra!

You mean Rexus, right? Because wrong game otherwise!

"My apartment's only a handful of blocks farther than the bookstore, and it'll be a lot more private," Jessi counters Vantine. "If you want snacks, though, we'll need to pick some up beforehand."

"Sounds great!"

Aisling nods, rubbing her hands together to keep them warm. "Hot food sounds good. nevr plan on an empty stomach."

Once at Jessi's flat, after they've had something to eat, she looks at the others. "I'm not stealthy. Not in aarmour and carrying a sheild. And I don't like any plan that relies on taking out the guards without raising the alarm. What if we cnat put them down that fast?" She tries to be as brisk as possible as she talks, knowing that she's actually discussing cold-blooded murder. It does'mt sit well with her.

"Well, if we can't take out the two outside guards quickly, we'd best plan on a five-against-nine fight...and one of our five is me! Not good odds....

"If the captives are in decent shape and able to join the fight to escape, that makes the outlook brighter, but I'm not sure we can count on that. We can bring along some weapons for them to use; we might want to invest in cloaks and boots for them as well. Plus, if we're still considering using the sewers for our escape, we might want to make a test run beforehand; it'd suck to free the prisoners only to encounter a whole bunch of hungry albino alligators when we try to sneak through the sewers!"

Jessibel pauses a moment to butter a piece of bread. "I'd also like to stop by the costume shop and see if my Magpie mask is ready yet."

I'd like to make a really late Knowledge (local) check in regards to the Sallix Salt Works from THIS POST from March 9th. I was all covidy at the time and apparently missed it.

Jessibel Knowledge (local) Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

The Ravens make their way around in Jarvis Hill, wind kicking snow up from the snowdrifts and the roofs. Eventually, Jessi points out her home, such as it is. As before, it looks cold and empty - Apparently Jessi's friend hasn't been home yet.

"All the more reason to go shopping at the alchemists beforehand. Could be something we can use to disable the guards quietly there. I think fighting the entire garrison is not an option. Many kintargans will not look kindly on us killing men who 'were just doing their job' and Thrune will latch on to anything to demonize us. Nine mercs guarding the saltworks." The Raven says, nodding at Aisling. "I doubt more than four would be up at any one time at night, they would need more guards during the day when the prisoners are active." He helps himself to a seat. "One at the front door, one at the back, one guarding the prisoners, one patrolling. I can jam the locks to any doors we do not need to slow down response time in case reinforcements are called, but it should not come to that." Leaning his chair back on two legs, he glances around the room at the assorted knicknacks and adds "Nice nest."

When they've settled in to start talking about how to spring the prisoners from the salt works, Vantine makes a proposal and suggests a plan.

"If we decide we can delay by a day, I can try to divine more about the place's workings. I would have to prepare particular magics for it, and wouldn't be ready for the breakout until the next day. If we decide to check to make sure there is a route through the sewers we can use to get the prisoners out, then both of these things could be done tomorrow."

"We do know some things already though, and I think we can make some sound assumptions about more. I think we can get the prisoners out with little or no bloodshed, and it would better if we did."

"There are two buildings, with the larger containing the saltworks itself. The large rounded part is hot enough to radiate heat on the outside and melt the snow away. That is where the salt is dried. The second, smaller building is almost certainly the quarters for the guards. They probably work in two shifts, with roughly half of them resting there when not on duty. I believe the prisoners would be kept in the larger building. It is the simpler way of watching them since they would not need to be moved back and forth."

"This will be best done at night, when the streets will be empty and there is less chance of anything being noticed by passersby. While the front door of the bigger building has guards posted, the fenced rear seems to be left unguarded. If we take the extra time, I can try to confirm these things magically."

"Our goal should be to engage with only half of the guards. The best way of doing this is to either jam or barricade the door of the smaller building. It will also not do to use force against the guards posted in front, too public and visible."

"If Jessibel is agreeable she and I will handle the guards at the front door. Given some time with them, they will do as I ask, as long as my requests aren't overly alarming. Jessibel, do you still have the Asmodian Chelish Citizens' Group pendant? Those will be our way in. We will pose as fans, who have come to reward the guards for their hard and patriotic work. They will let us inside, and come along with us."

"Meanwhile everyone else will enter over the fence in the rear. First securing the small building's door, then entering the large building by way of the second door in the courtyard. If things go very well there will be no resistance left inside to worry about. Some will be asleep. Perhaps I will send the guards from the front out to fetch coffee."

"If things go less perfectly, there should only be a couple of guards remaining to deal with, minimal violence. When we have regrouped in the large building, we free the prisoners and we're on out way."

"There is a holdover advantage to this plan. It creates a situation in which the prisoners are freed while the guards are clearly derelict in their duties, which may well delay report of the escape."

"The dwarf is a problem. If he is like most of his kind, I will have a much more difficult time influencing him. This is another reason for doing this at night. If he's in charge, I assume he would choose the more desirable day shift."

"What do you all think?"

"Yeah, I've still got the CCG pendant," Jessi tells Vantine. As her friend further details her plan, Jessi points out some potential flaws in it.

"Well, if the same guards are out front, they might recognize us from earlier today unless we're disguised," she points out. "Also, if things take a turn for the worse, you'd be depending upon me to defend you, at least until the others arrive. That trust might be misplaced, considering my lack of martial prowess...."

"And while you're probably right about the dwarf, he might work weird hours. His darkvision would serve him marginally better at night, though I'm sure the place is well-lit while the prisoners are at work.

"And shouldn't we tour the sewers today so we'll be at full strength tomorrow for the actual jailbreak?"

Jessi seems to be finished with all her pertinent questions 'til she suddenly blurts out: "Why would they dry the salt? Salt comes dry, doesn't it?"

"By the time you get it salt is dry, yes. But it must come from somewhere, like evaporating seawater. Evaporating sea water more rapidly would require heat."

"It's true all the things you've mentioned are risks Jessibel. But if we want to avoid killing people, what I'm suggesting is probably not as risky as other possible ways. If it works well, it closes down chances for guards to react hostilely. Anything we try will be risky."

"The plan I've suggested will be quiet. We should have the door to the smaller building blocked, but if the off-duty guards never awaken, they can't get to the job of breaking out. The underlying idea is to keep dividing the guards into manageable groups. We keep off-duty guards out completely, cutting the numbers in half. Of the remaining four let's say, we divide them again. First we dominate the wills of the two guarding the door. Then there are two remaining inside. We either bend them to our will as well, or put them to sleep. Then there are none."

"I think you're underestimating yourself Jessibel. I do trust in your capabilities sweetheart. But I also trust in my ability to be very, very persuasive. You probably don't imagine just how far I'm willing to go to ensure that I am."

"We can check out the sewers today. I meant we could do it tomorrow if we also decided we wanted me to try to find out more about the place's workings through divination. If I did, I couldn't do it before tomorrow, and so I couldn't be ready for the breakout attempt until the day after tomorrow."

Vantine isn't argumentative in her replies to Jessibel's critique. She's quite warm about it in her responses in fact. She understands none of the others truly realize just how pliable she can make the guards. It isn't just the magic, which is strong with her. It's the deployment of the suggestions. Enchantment is equally an art, and Vantine is an artist.

The Raven leans even further back in his chair, staring at Vantine with narrowed eyes. You can be awfully persuasive... he thinks fondly, remembering their first night together. "I do not know anything of your persuasive abilities" He says, leaning forward and dropping his chair onto all four legs with a thunk. "But if you believe you can pull that off, that may well be the best possible solution. Just imagine! Prisoners of the state escaped because their guards were distracted by a couple pretty birds! The scandal!"

Vantine smiles at The Raven's speculation.

"Maybe. But something so embarrassing may never be mentioned officially. I've no doubt it would be a scandal within the administration, and that the poor men would be very severely punished. But the public may never know about it from that source."

"That's a good thing for us. If they keep the secret, they may be hobbled in responding to us. And, we would control the narrative. All Kintargo will still know, but from us rather than them."

"I can show you how persuasive I can be Raven. Will yo permit me to be a little rude to you? Convince you to do something you wouldn't consider doing on your own?"

Vantine leans back in her chair and offers The Raven a winsome smile, her eyelids dropping slightly, seductively.

The Raven rises to his feet, placing a hand on his chest and bowing deeply towards Vantine. "My dear passerine, you may try but my will is iron."

Nyxra rolls her eyes and makes an annoyed sigh.

"Right. I'll scout the sewers out and see if I can plot a route to the saltworks from there."

Vantine's smile fades away, replaced by a crestfallen expression.

"So you don't believe me. That hurts."

Ever the laywer, Aisling sees the opportunity for a redirect from what she seees as the pointless flirting that was getting on her nerves. "Not nearly as hurt as you will be if your plan goes wrong, Vantine. Honesltly, it is clever and I really appreciate your ability to put a plan into words and show the foreseight that this resistance is going to need. But I'm reaally not enjoying the idea of putting our two weakest fighters in harm's way on their own." She gives Jessi and Vantine a smile. "I mean not offence, you can both do things I can't, including persuading the gaurds to let you in! But once you're in, you'll be on your own and I don't like it. You could easily end up capturd, or worse."

If your plan involves splitting hte party, don't. If you think it's a great plan, talk it trhough with the other players, then don't.

Jessibel sips a cup of tea as she watches and listens to the back-and-forth between her new friends. Her lips purse when Aisling questions the wisdom of her and Vantine engaging the guards alone. It's not that she disagrees (she knows her own limitations); it's more that telling Vantine "No" is generally the best way to get her to do the very thing you're forbidding.

"Maybe we can combine the plans a bit," the bard suggests. "Have the Raven disable the lock of the outer building to trap whomever's sleeping there, then have everyone except me and Vantine hide around the corner of the building while Vantine does her thing. If she's as good as she claims, the rest of the party can likely waltz right into the place behind us. If things get dicey, we're all together to fight our way out of trouble."

Thinking that Nyxra may be itching to explore the sewer escape routes alone, Jessi suggests that everyone execute that plan, saying doing that today and pulling off the escape the following night makes the most sense to her.

The wind batters at the windows of Jessibel's flat as the group discusses how to best tackle the infiltration of the Sallix Saltworks. In the distance, the Ravens can hear that the city is starting to fully awaken as the citizens of Kintargo go about their daily business.

Aisling nods. "That sounds like it could be workable. And we definetly want to scout our exceape route before we have to use it! I suggest we all do that. WE don't know what will be down there, after all." She shivers at the memory of the alligator's bite.

Vantine doesn't shift her attention away from The Raven, but adds a cautionary comment.

"Our respective projects can't come into contact with each other. Jessibel and I would be entering the saltworks as guests, while you will be intruders. If the guards I am working feel threatened, my hold will be lost. You're perfectly right when you say I could never clobber one of those guards, and they will of course know it as well. My weakness is my strength."

Vantine continues, but to The Raven.

"They don't really believe either. It's so disheartening to me. But you Sir Raven, I believe you understand me in ways they cannot. You might underestimate me, everyone always does. But you would never let me down would you? You would want to see me happy. You would build me up rather than tear me down, wouldn't you?"

There is misery in Vantine's voice, but also underneath a faint glimmer of hope The Raven will be her salvation.

Charm Hex vs. The Raven DC 17 Will.

As the heroes continue their discussion, they venture once more into the wind-chilled streets of Kintargo. It takes some effort, but eventually Nyxra manages to pry forth the location of a sewer manhole from a passerby.

Of course, it's covered in snow... but that only takes ten or so minutes to clear off of the surface of the metal plate, and another few minutes for them to lift it up, enter, and close the cover with a resonant thump.

The stench wells up from the sewage immediately, striking the Ravens' noses like a club - but at least it's somewhat warmer down here than it is out on the streets. It is, however, incredibly dark - only Vantine can make out much of anything, and while Nyxra can make out dim shadows, the rest of the party are effectively blind, especially once they venture away from the tiny cracks of light that radiate from the sewer cover.

It is dark for the humans, meaning everything has total concealment. Nyxra can see 10 ft. (2 squares) in dim light, which means that everything in those squares have concealment. Vantine can see perfectly well up to 60 ft. (12 sq.) away.

Jessibel casts a light spell on her rapier before the party enters the dark sewers.

"Phenominal." The Raven chirps as he lands in wet something "I regret every decision that has brought me to this point in my life... My poor new cloak... What are we down here for? I have already forgotten. Does anyone know which way we are actually supposed to be going?"

"We're down here so we'll be able to lead a bunch of lady prisoners to safety during curfew without leaving any telltale prints in the snow!" Jessibel huffs, apparently liking the environment about the same as the Raven does. "I'd say we go generally east-northeast until we find another entrance to the surface."

Jessibel Knowledge (local; Kintargo sewers) Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Vantine wrinkles her nose in disgust at the foul sewer, but remains silent. There is no point in complaining about getting exactly what one can expect. She considers volunteering to walk ahead a little so her vision could be of use in spotting things before the groups' tell-tale lights appear. But she just a quickly realizes that would mean so far ahead nobody else would probably allow it. At least her sense of direction and distance seems to be intact in the sewer.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

K Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Knowledge (Local: Sewers): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Aisling is not at all used to the stecnhc of the sewers and she does her best not to choke on it as she clibms down with the others. She mutters a prayer and the tip of her longsword glows with a faint light, enough to see by. She has a reasonable sense of direction and she does her best to try and navigate the way.

Srurvival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

The swords’ light illuminates the tunnels that the Ravens find themselves in, casting steady shadows across the sewage. Unfortunately, within a few turns, what little dry pathway there was drops off, leaving them to trek through ankle-deep cold sewage. At least it doesn’t stink as much as the cesspool back in the Livery.

"Right. Those better be some pretty amazing ladies." The Raven grumbles. "How would we like to procede? Difficult to manuever down here if we are ambushed by albino giant goldfish."

What's the tunnels built like? 10' or 5' wide or whaaat?

10' wide and about 8' tall, but now it's ankle-deep water, so it's difficult terrain if you get into combat. Give me a marching order, please.

I'm thinking Jessi in the middle so we can all benefit from her light spell.

"Lady Ilphukiir with her keen elven eyes and mighty bow up front with myself?" The Raven suggests, assuming lady Talbot would like a break from being the target of ambushers.

Do we know Vantine can see in the dark? She is ostensibly human.

Yes, it has come up that she can see in the dark.

Left to her own devices Vantine takes a place right behind Jessibel, which has sort of become the routine.

Nyxra unlimbers her bow and takes point. "Right. Stay sharp."

The Raven draws one of his trusty daggers - the weapons had really pulled more than their weight the last few days, daggers are not battlefield weapons - gripping it by the tip of the blade for a quick and hopefully deadly throw alongside Nyxra's bow.

Aisling in the back with Vantine and move forward?

As they slog through the tunnels, Vantine does pause to look back behind occasionally, just in case.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Jessibel makes her way through the sewer passage with a look of extreme distaste on her face. "I've heard that it's an adventurers' saying to always protect the party healer. Well, in this case I'd like to suggest you all protect the party bard: My prestidigitation spell is the only thing that can clean and save our boots. And heat them, too."

The Ravens splash through the chilly sewage, thankful for the fact that they're wearing relatively thick boots for the snow and cold above. For the most part, there are few options for changing direction - most of the sewage comes from grates that lead up towards the streets which aren't even a foot wide, even were the bars to be removed.

Therefore, the Ravens move towards what Aisling has determined to be northwest, though it is slowly curving further and further west as they go.

Lacking any other information, I'm assuming you're headed north (despite that being in the opposite direction of Old Kintargo).

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Nyxra suddenly whirls around and points her bow behind the party.

"What did I do this time?" Jessibel demands, raising both her hands above her head. Then she realizes that Nyxra's not aiming her bow at her but rather behind her.

Jessibel Perception Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8