"I am a lady of the Empire, you will not touch me with your greasy feathers! Feathers?" She looks up at Evelyn and sees through her shock for the first time. "You! All three of you! They're in on it! They attacked me just before the main assault!
The priest looks at Evelyn with narrowed eyes, "Is this true?" The other minor nobles quietly retreat back into the rooms they emerged from, worried more violence may occur.
Stepping forward.
”Actually it was ‘Lady’ Trant and her entourage attacked us. But I’m sure it was just her way of welcoming us to the party.” She says looking at Dame Trant. Turning to the Priest and other nobles. ”As for us being ‘In on It’. Doesn’t make sense. You all saw the Civil War start out there and what the bad guys were doing. They weren’t exactly taking prisoners. If we were in on it, all of you would already be dead.” She gives a little smile.
Influence attitude
Looking back at Dame Trant. ”The last time we had issues I hit you with fruit and pasty.” Reaching into her belt sash pouch she pulls out a small vial of red liquid and holds it up. ”Next time I hit you with one of these. They make a lot of noise and leave lasting marks.” Giving her a toothy grin.
"That sounds plausible, given the rumors I have heard about Dame Trant." the young woman stares daggers at the back of the Abadaran's head. "And I cannot fault your logic. However, your threat combined with a previous altercation with her Ladyship gives me pause. We will remain in these rooms waiting for rescue. You will go your own way. Any sign of hostile intent, and I will ask Abadar to smite you as threats to the civilized world. Agreed?"
The halfling hiding in the room still chimes in from behind the door, "For what it's worth, I believe you!"
After he locks the door, the trio feel a now-familiar buzz in their heads followed by Lotheed's voice 8n their heads. **“Out of the senate. Stavian’s soldiers still pursuing. Fighting throughout the entire senate building. Wherever you are, keep your heads down!”**
"I probably best they stay hold up in their rooms, they would just get in the way. Lets just hurry and find a way out of here, I don't wanna spent a moment longer then we have to."
"Stay here if you wish. We must make haste." Evelyn gave the nobles no more thought as she continued on north to the next door.
Evelyn's Shadow quietly opens the door while trying to remain out of direct view.
The shadow can see a halfling hiding rather poorly under the dusty table. He is dressed like the servants from the party.
"H-hello? Is someone out there? Oh, gods! Are you the ghost of Lord Manshum? Someone!? I just wanna go hooome!" He whines with wide, darting eyes.
Camila turns to Mal and tosses her the ring.
"Here, think you could make the best use of this."
She then makes her to the northern most room, searching for any other secrects waiting to be found.
Catching the ring and slipping upon her finger.
”Thanks. I’m sure I will get to try it out very soon.
Moving up to peer over Shadow’s shoulder.
She narrows her eyes at the Halfling.
A flick of her right wrist allows the dagger there to fall into her hand as she move to flank the small 'servant'
"Do come out and join us. It's all good here."
She says with a little smile. All the while never taking her eyes off the Halfling.
"Oh, yes! Thank you! My children must be so worried!"
He ignores the knife and scurries out from the table before the halfling brushes the dust off his servant outfit. "Can you believe that mess up there! Oh, dear, this is not good! How do we get out of here?"
"We're wasting time" Evelyn said before turning and heading north. Her shadow turned the corner and approached her quietly. The two stood examining the northern door.
Evelyn looked to her shadow. "What do you think?"
A long table, its surface covered in green felt, stands in the center of this rectangular chamber. Silver trays dot the table’s surface, each hosting a set of crystal glassware and a tall decanter of wine. Doors exit to the north and south.
Evelyn's Shadow confirms no danger from the door ahead, which is only barely concealed from this side. A simple latch will slide it open.
The halfling stays back from the duo and looks at Malora. "They can hide here," he says of the nobles who don't know what to make of the trio. "But I need to get home to my kids. I don't have much to offer as payment, except this scarf. Real Tian silk, it coat my late wife five whole gold crowns to buy it, but if you can get me out of here, it's yours, missus. And I can be useful, missus, I can hold torches for you, or shine your shoes! Please bring me with you!"
Evelyn nodded to her shadow and headed into the room with the long table. After a slow circuit around the table, she pulled out her healing kit and set it on the table. She proceeded to empty the contents out into her backpack, placing the crystal glassware carefully into the medkit and wrapping each glass with a bandage. Somewhat satisfied, she stuff the medkit back into her pack and opened the document box. After a quick cantrip to identify the scrolls, she carefully stuffed them into the many pockets of her pickpocket outfit.
As Evelyn packed the discovered supplies, her Shadow went about flipping the latch to the poorly concealed door.
”No need for payment’
Nodding and motioning with her head to the Halfling.
Moving to the ‘north’ secret door, all the while keeping the Halfling in front of her.
”So, where at the party were you stationed? I suppose it’s a good job working a gala like this? Kids say. How many?”
Malora tries to keep him talking. Looking for holes in his story.
The door slides open quietly to reveal a room where there are ristine glass display cases standing along the walls of an immense rectangular display room. The area is more than sixty feet wide and forty feet long, with theouter walls covered in glass displays of armor, save near the
two northern doors and along the southern wall. Two rustedand decayed suits of armor stand separate, protected in glass cases. Tarnished and discolored weaponry fills the cases in the center of the room. Circles of various sizes have been scratched into the glass and drawn on the walls with chalk and paint.
Camilla walking into the room to inspect the displays, using detect magic just in case.
Camilla inspects the weapons and armor to see if they belong to anyone of importance.
She also takes a look at the circles that have been placed on the glass and walls, trying to determine if they have any magical signifigance.
or
"What do you make of this? A display room? Here? Who would see it?"
The new room’s contents bring a raised eyebrow and head tilt from Malora.
”Well. This place just keeps with the surprises.”
She sets about examining the area in detail.
Armor and weapons, age of things?
Any Heraldry?
The circle symbols ?
She does continue to keep an eye on the suspicious Halfling’s activities.
”Do you know anything about this?” She queries him.
The halfling stares with wide eyes at the displays as the door is slid back. After a moment he blinks, hearing Mal's question several seconds after she asked. "Oh, uh, on the Senate Floor. Yeah, usually this sort of job is good work. Walk around with trays of hors d'oeuvres, sneak one or two, and get paid pretty well to just be ignored. Just the two kids, uh, Bloofus and...Klunt."
Camilla's magically augmented vision catches magical energy emanating from a variety of items in the room. Perhaps the strongest comes from an exquisite dark wood crossbow, but also from a shield, axe, and several dusty potion vials.
She immediately realizes the crossbow as the true Dignity's Barb, as opposed to the replica in the display case at the Senate Gallery.
Brass inlay and Taldan military symbols adorn this masterwork darkwood light crossbow. An inscription bears the name of General Gerefein of the Seventh Army of Exploration. In his most famous act, he turned the tide of a vicious battle with a Kellid warlord. Through a chaotic blizzard, General Gerefein shot practically blind, yet his bolt struck a lethal blow, dashing the warlord from his mammoth mount and breaking the enemy’s charge.
As for the circles, they appear to be some sort of personal script or notation. It is impossible to understand them without more context, but they seem to have some sort of mathematical or geometric patterns.
"Well..." the halfling begins to say as he glances around, "There were always rumors that some nobles had a secret vault. You know, servants gossip." He shrugs and hangs toward the back of the room.
Evelyn slowly made her way around the room, taking each glass case in turn. She inspected each one up and down, running her fingers along the edges, tapping the glass with a claw, even blowing away the dust to see if any clues lied beneath.
Stopping in front of the crossbow, Evelyn begins looking for any tell-tale signs of traps...
before trying to smash the glass with her appropriated longsword.
The sounds of glass shattering echoes for a moment. The halfling seems to wince and shrink back a bit.
She reaches out and grasps the relic. The grip is smooth and well-cared for, but shows signs of small dents lacquered over in the stock.
A loud crash as two more glass cases are shattered fills the air. Both of the ancient and pitted armor in the separate cases move in a steady but plodding gait toward Evelyn. Each "draws" rusted longswords from decaying scabbard as they advance menacingly.
Sighing slightly at the activation of the trap. Mal glances at the Halfling.
”You could have mentioned the trap”
Then draws her rapier and Heads into the room.
”Oh! Don’t even think of going anywhere.” She says to the Halfling over her shoulder.
"That isn't a trap! Those are some kind of monsters!" he cries out. "I mean...Look out, bird lady!"
Camila steps around the glass case and attacks the armor.
Despite the overwhelming desire to pick up such a famed piece of Taldor history, Evelyn's hand recoiled at hearing the sound of other glass breaking. At seeing the ancient armor spring to life, she dropped the longsword and waited for them to close, lashing out with her claws.
"They, are the least of your worries little man" Evelyn snarled.
Evelyn's shadow quietly crept around the other side of what was left of the glass case to come up on the armor from it's blindside.
One of the corroded suits of armor attempts to rush past Malora, but she cuts it down, sending the shorn ancient steel flying in two directions. The other closes with Evelyn, who rends the other ancient breastplate into ribbons of oxidized metal.
"Huh? What did I do?" protests the halfling.
Pausing poke the fallen armor for a moment, just to make sure it is down for good. Mal then turns to the Halfling.
”An excellent question.” Pointing her rapier at the little guy. ”Okay, you are NOT a servant here at the party.”Taking a step closer.”Who are you?”Holding the rapier closer to his face.”And what are you doing here?” The weapon is now just inches from the Halfling’s face.
Camila eyes the situation with the halfling for a breif second. "Hate to be the halfling right about now." she thinks to herself before turning her attention to the magic items she detected a few moments ago.
The halfling's eyes grow wide for a moment and he starts to put his hands up with open palms, but then breaks out into a smiles. "Okay, okay, you got me. This is why I'm here," he waves one arm to indicate he means the vault. I represent an anonymous client who contracted me to break into this vault seeking a lost family heirloom. Specifically, that shield,"[/b] he points to the gleaming shield Cam spotted with a magical aura. "So help me get it and myself out of here alive and I'll cut you in on my payment. One hundred gold crowns for you three capable ladies. What do you say?"
With the threat of armor ended, Evelyn gave an exasperated huff. Turning back towards the crossbow and eyeing Mal with her rapier aimed at the halfling was an unexpected turn of events. Slowly, she nodded to her shadow and then approached the pair.
"Now Mal, I'm sure we all have our secrets. Let's not beget the little one his. A dishonest job is an honest day's work. While don't you lower that pointer of yours. There doesn't appear to be anywhere else he can go. Besides, he might prove useful yet."
Raising an eyebrow and reflecting a moment at Eve’s comment.
”Fair point. Besides I was just making sure he wasn’t a Royal Assassin.”
She raises the rapier, spins it in her fingers then deftly sheathes it.
Then begins to look over the contents of the room.
"Well, now that the cat is out of the bag, maybe I should make myself more useful. Which door should I check for traps?" the halfling asks before withdrawing a leather tool case with high-quality burglary tools.
"Why all of them, I should think."
Feeling like tempers had calmed for the moment, Evelyn made her move as soon as the halfling moved to check the doors.
"Surely!" he cheerfully heads the the door on the left. "Did you day something else? Well, it isnt important, but I want to warn you that I am going to be very careful here. We entered from a hidden rear door. The obvious ones are more likely to use protections."
With practiced movements the halfling meticulously examines the door. It takes him nearly a half hour before he announces, "I am confident this door is safe."
He then begins the same procedure on the right door. "My friends call me Iggy, by the way. Just a street name, mind you, but if you ever need to find me for business or, you know, drinks after we get out of here, that's the name folks will recognize. How about you, my fine, feathered friend?"
Camila grabs the shield, hand ax and hands out a potion of CLW to Eve and Mal.
"I'll hold on to the shield for now, maybe we'll let you have it if we ever get out of here."
"There is also a potion of Bull Strength, do any of you two want it?"
"You keep it for now. My palette is too refined after having dined with the nobles" Evelyn feigned. She scooped up the crossbow before moving to the first door that Iggy had determined safe. She gave it a quick glance of her own before trying to open it.
Evelyn's quick check confirms the halfling's claim. As Iggy keeps working the other door, she opens it.
The rectangular room she reveals appears to host a celebration frozen in time. Gaudy nobles crowd the corners of this room, all ofwhich are dressed in ostentatious and pretentious fashions.
Tremendous wigs soar toward the ceiling, each covered in thick layers of dust. A larger gaggle fills the center of the
chamber, each aristocrat presenting a jovial or mocking leer as it stares out blankly. One of the figures is sprawled
on the floor; overlapping circles cut into its waxen chest and face.
There are exits on each of the four walls.
Taking the +1 Handaxe and one of the cure potions. Mal follows Iggy as he works.
Just to make sure he didn’t miss anything.
Have I heard of Iggy in the criminal underground?
When the ‘frozen’ room is revealed.
”Not sure I’d rush to go in there.”
Malora cannot deny the meticulous nature of the halfling's work. "The door itself is safe, but I feel like something just ain't right," he says scrunched his nose. "Do you smell that? What is that? It's faint, not here, but...probably we should be careful in the room beyond this door." Malora can barely detect a faint ozone tang in the air near the door.
She feels certain that she should have heard of a thief named Iggy, but she does not. Of course, this is a very big city and she hardly knows every criminal in town.
She very quickly realizes her paranoia about Iggy is bleeding into her general awareness when she comes to the conclusion that the frozen figures are made of wax!
Evelyn surveyed the room from the doorway, activating her magical sight before finally stepping inside. Half a step in, she called back. "Camilla, stick with Mal if you would."
"Sister, if you would do be the honor of accompanying me, I would feel much safer in your presence."
With a slight twitch of it's head, the shadow crept ever closer to Evelyn.
Evelyn immediately detects the presence of a faint illusion aura emanating from a wig on one of the wax figures. There is little else of note beyond a mixture of quality costume and real jewelry.
"Will do" Camila responds, stepping closer to Mal.
Nodding to Cam while moving into the wax museum room. She pauses to study the clothing for a moment.
Then moves to position herself to watch both this room and Eve.
"See anything interesting Eve?"
"I'm not sure yet. A magical aura, coming from over there." Evelyn slowly walked around the room, her eyes still on the aura. Occasionally she would stop and pick up something that caught her eye, but she made steady progress towards the source of the magic. Wary of traps, or more objects coming to life kept her paranoid.