I happily brush Myriana's fur and hair. Cuddling as much as possible being on the road. "I don't know what works best for the plans."
Myriana purred louder as the brushing continued and realized something she had forgotten, that she had a personal inventory! She grinned and said, "I forgot to see if the inventory still worked nya but it is showing as available nya!" She considered what she absolutely needed when the s+%& hit the fan and said, "If I take only the essentials nya I should be able to carry a few of your things too Iris-chanya!"
"Oh, right!" Desseer says a little surprised. He then adds apologetically, "That wasn't terribly informative." The half-fiend adjusts his position and clears his platinum hair from his eyes, clearly preparing for a long exposition. "Plans A, B, and C involve the current stated plan of Myriana and Iris being brought in by the bandits. A is best case scenario where Myriana and Iris ingratiate themselves and get information without issues. This allows us to devise a more in depth plan for how we can kill them all, and likely enjoy ourselves. B is similar to A, but there are some difficulties that require us to set up some safeguards like Ink. C is like B except the safeguards are more like rip cords. Plan D through F are where Myriana and Iris are completely captured and need rescuing. As they progress, they depend upon how easy it is to rescue them and also progressively involve killing more people out of the gate. Plan G on through J involves D and the settlement goes on something akin to lockdown and I get very angry," his face darkens at the last bit, but then lightens quickly, "Is that sufficient for the time being?"
As the group makes camp, Myriana and Iris head off towards the town to be captured.
She goes over her equipment with Myrianna, the rest of you can easily hear it.
Gear: masterwork dagger,
eternal wand of mage armor,
potion of cat’s grace,
potions of cure light wounds [2],
potion of invisibility,
wand of ray of enfeeblement [24 charges],
headband of intellience +2,
Belt of healing and dexterity +2.
On her person will be her backpack with regular equipment, the MW dagger, a potion of cure light.
She would want Myrianna to hold:
eternal wand of mage armor and
her Belt of healing and dexterity +2
She leaves the rest in a bag with John to put in his chest.
Ink makes his way out of the city. Using the sewer and his form of an ooze, he makes his way out. He goes to a nearby spot and shifts from ooze to a heavily tattooed man in simple clothes. His dagger resting on one hip, and his other hand holding the strange club in his hand over his shoulder.
As he walks the perimeter, he looks for any sign of his compatriots. They should be here by now, and he needed to tell them the players and state the place he left in.
Myriana accepted the requested items from Iris and put them in her inventory along with her own needed items, her headband, her ring, the wand of inflict light wounds, and the copy of her spellbook before then giving the rest to John like Iris had. Once they were done with that she extended her claws and said, "Hold still Iris-channya." Myriana used her claws to damage their clothes and and scratch their flesh so it would look like they had been running for their lives to give their story some realism. "There, that should do it, lets go Iris-chanya!"
They believe you and escort you to town. Passing by the check point and taking you to a temple for them to heal you.
The group of guard bandits stick with you. Their boss telling you, "My boss will determine how we can 'help' you."
The priests finish with healing and even mend your clothing. Then wave as you leave.
Ink staying closest to the gate from which the group will most likely come from, he notices a group of bandit guards with two feminine figures.
'Myriana is there a reason why you are captured, or do I need to free you?' Ink telepathically says as he pauses and waits.
"Ink by the way"
When they reached the casino Myriana felt some trepidation, this was not what she expected to see, nor where she thought the boss would be found, and casinos always had higher security back home, so she assumed they did here too. Still, she felt they could handle things if needed though and, as she pulled out a chair for Iris and took a place behind and to her left as a dutiful servant would she felt a familiar mind touch her own as they were instructed to wait.
Myriana responded mentally to Ink's telepathy, It is part of the plan to get us inside and let us cause mayhem behind their lines once the fighting starts.
Ink had followed hiding his tattoos. Instead he shifted his clothes to look like that of a bandit.
(just incase)
He tails the pair seemingly a roaming bandit, but lower on the food chain. Seemingly ordinary and unimpressive enough
Once by the casino, he looks for a good place to change back to a Blob and seek a better place to inflitrate the place.
There are a lot of cats around.
As an ooze you crawl along the beams holding up the roof and second floor.
Ink will continue on, following the group holding Myriana. In doing so, he will set himself up to drop the minute anything gets hairy. All the while remaining incontact with Myriana.
If need be he will should tapestry or graffiti be on a wall, blend in by assuming a shape via his Ink ability. If not, he will hide amongst the rafters
The boss finishes his game and comes over. He touches Iris' face holding her chin. "Ah I see. Yes very fine indeed. We can arrange a place for you to stay. Excellent job Ash, I will make sure you get your bonus."
|
John setup the campsite relatively easily. He setup two of the three tents since the other girls would be moving forward. He waves to the hill giant and continues making preparations.
John checks the horses once more, before adding more fire to the campfire. He then sits down with Jav'Urk and whispers to her of his previous life. Soon she is fast asleep in a bedroll in a tent.
Desseer looks to the giant and says, "Watch over us as we sleep. Once you are about to fall asleep, wake me up."
The giant nods. "I understand. I wake you when I get sleepy."
The giants stays awake poking himself with a spare dagger. Desseer comes out of his meditation naturally.
Myriana couldn't see where Ink was as he kept watch on them, but she could teel he was given what he could tell her about what was going on around her. She remained dutifully at Iris side as an attendant should as the boss finished his game and came over to them. Myriana had to work to not hiss at him when he grasped Iris' chin and instead said, "This is my mistress nya, the daughter of the gem merchant Agratha nya, and I am her attendant Myriana nya."
Myriana curtsied gracefully and continued, "My mistress is grateful that your people rescued us from all of those goblins nya, who knows what would have happened to us if they hadn't nya."
As he stands up she casts guidance.
She resists pulling away from him but her eyes seem to draw him in more as she soothingly says, "I can only hope to repay this kindness when my father brings a caravan." Then she continues the conversation spinning the tale and dropping subtle key words to draw him to a more amiable attitude.
Ash's boss Chandler Variden is one of the seven Craterlords, he offers, "I could put you up in my private secure quarters or Ash can get you a room at the inn. Which would you prefer."
---
You can tell he has a bit of resignation but states, "Alright please stay in the room unless escorted for your own safety. Ash escort them."
After a few moments of thought she replies with a sultry smile, "Thank you for the use of your quarters but I think a room at the inn would suffice. Also it is proper."
When the boss spoke to them and had such a heated gaze on Iris Myriana felt a rather strong protective urge to end him. She held herself back through and kept her cool letting Iris handle things. which turned out to work out well, though she felt it was a close thing. She could tell Iris used her ability to charm once more and it seemed to be work, though she was concerned that it might not have been enough.
The boss seemed to accept what Iris decided though and when they were escorted away Myriana took up her accustomed place as the dutiful attendant and followed Iris to their room at the inn. Once they were safely there Myriana wanted to have her way with Iris right then and there, but they had to keep up appearances, she would be utterly shocked if they were not being monitored somehow and their ruse needed to not be broken yet, so she decided to be patient...for now.
Iris and Myrianna sleep in the room of moderate luxury. Waking up to a rap on their door. A loud gruff female voice, that you think is Ash's, comes through the door, "When you are ready, I will take you to breakfast."
Ash and her crew would escort you through town to a restaurant where Chandler Variden waits. He engages you with mild chatter as you eat. Then he gets to business, "Where should we send a message to let your father know where you are located?"
Meanwhile, Deesseer, the hill giant, John, and Jav'Urk head toward the town of Cinder. They see the volcanic crater that defends the town from most threats. Approaching the walled town guards look up.
Ink will follow the head honcho wherever he goes, stealthily and quietly.
Once in the restaurant, he will sneak in and also take the form of a Small dog.
Desseer, in the morning, adjusted his appearance to be that of a tiefling. In this appearance, he has red skin, black hair, small bat like wings, and the stumps of horns at the top of his forehead.
Desseer waves to the guard that looks toward them. He gives a friendly smile.
Myriana was cuddled up with Iris overnight, behaving herself and not getting up to any mischief since she was sure that someone was keeping tabs on them. When the next morning came and they were brought down to breakfast Myriana stayed standing to one side and slightly behind Iris as she sat, waiting until requested to sit and eat with her before doing so.
The question of where to send the message to Iris "father" left Myriana uneasy. She knew Iris had worked things out but this would be the hard part of the story It shouldn't be an issue since the messenger would likely never return before the bandits were dealt with but it was still a danger. She let Iris handle this part as it was only right.
The guards let the tiefling, hill giant and two bandits in not accosted or asked.
She marvels, "Wow, I am a bit surprised they just let the doors stay open and let you walk in without a word."
Iris uses her keen intellect to use the port he should be inhabiting with his real daughter.
The Craterlord has a courier grab the message and take it to Iris, that she might sign it before it is sent off. "Do you have a signet ring?"
I sign the message reading all of it. Memorizing it to memory. She replies, "I do not, it is in the carriage pilfered by those goblins. My signature should be adequate. How fast will the message be delivered?"
The Craterlord responds, "using the magical delivery system between a few hours and 8. Until then you and your maid are welcome to the food and lodging. You may wander freely but it would not be safe. Send Ash for any of your needs or at least have them escort you."
She quickly responds saying with sincerity, "Thank you lord Variden. For all you have done for me. I am in your debt." She excuses herself to the bathroom. Outside with Myriana she does have to relieve herself and uses one of the out houses.
Myriana was a bit surprised at the speed with which they could get a response and that was more than a little concerning. They had assumed it would take some time to get a response but if they could receive one in a matter of a couple of hours they might be in trouble! She kept this to herself though, knowing there was no time for this now, especially when they could be overheard if they talked about it.
When they were dismissed and Iris asked to go to the bathroom Myriana went in with her. As the ever dutiful maid it was the right thing for her to do for her role, and she used the opportunity to get in very close and breathe words as quietly as she could into Iris' ear, "We need to be watchful, if the response comes back too fast we may be found out and in trouble."
Ink will linger, and listen in on the man.
She whispers back, "Equip your gear. I am ready with two lightning bolts. One if needed to alert the others."
---
She then returns to be pleasant company for the Craterlord.
"Yeah, I kinda expected to have to put in more effort," Desseer agrees as he looks around. "Let's see if we can find a place to set up a forward base."
With that he begins wandering around, looking for any unused or inconspicuous place.
The bandit guard is bewildered by the giant but with John's smooth words and promises he states, "That sounds great. You can use any condemned building marked with an orange X. You must be new here, who do you work for? I could show you around town the nicer restaurants and entertaining districts."