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Del puts on his coat and picks up his hat from the chair he set it on. "Jan, it was a nice speech, but I don't feel like this is my fight. Best of luck to you. Semenya, be careful out there. It was nice to meet the rest of you, as well. Personally, I need to find a job that pays." Del sets a gold piece on the table. "I hope that'll pay for the dinner and breakfast." With that, he walks out the front door. He looks around to get his bearing, and then sets out up the street.
"There's not much time to get fancy with the plan, then. Do we want to hit them on the bridge or at the road? The bridge may be too obvious a point, and we don't have time to prepare it to our advantage." "Could your spells knock out the horses? They may be a better target than the driver. If we put the driver to sleep, the horses might run wild."
A smirk forms at the corners of Del's mouth. "Are phantoms green? Perhaps we should be the 'Trolls of Justice'? Especially if we attack at the bridge." The smirk fades as a thought occurs to him. "Actually, the bridge might not be a bad idea. I'm not so sure about the effectiveness of caltrops on a horse, but oil on the bridge could drop a few of them into the river. Plus, it could be ignited if we need to strengthen the barrier between the carriage and the guard." "Who would play the decoys, and who would perform the rescue? Also, it'll be hard to disguise the panther. Perhaps we could disguise him as a jaguar." The smirk returns.
Before heading to find a place to sleep, Del will chat with Amaya and Ermolos. Among the things he'd ask in the course of the chat: "Are you from Westcrown?"
Del walks to one of the front windows and tries to peek out to get his bearings. "I'd welcome a chance to wash up. We can't go out smelling like this. They know we went through the sewers, so we'll be easy to recognize."
Del takes his hat from Derek and glances over to where he'd set it down, incredulous that it's the same hat. "Cheers. I thought this was a goner." When he glances over at Semenya, Del is met with more green than he expects. He turns away quickly, but his curiosity gets the better of him, and he sneaks a peek to see that the tattoos on her arms do indeed cover most of her body. Yeah, they must be natural. Probably some symptom of her sorcery. Curiosity sated, he turns back to his hosts, and looks around the shrine, waiting for directions to a washroom of some sort.
"Let me go up and check the exit. Jan, is there anything I need to look out for? The safehouse have a password I need to know or anything?"
"I don't think that'll work. You need to get out, too. I think she thought this faerie fire spell could be cast at the far end of another tunnel, to appear that our torches were that direction, when we really went another." Del whispers to Semenya: "Nobody here has that 'faerie fire' spell. We don't hear the Hellknights behind us anymore. We may have already lost them. Besides, if the safehouse is secure, it should be hidden enough that they won't find it unless they actually see us entering. The prestidigitation may be all we need."
"Semenya wants to know if anyone can cast 'faerie fire' or 'sound'? They're more ideas to throw off pursuers."
Del leaves the gold, necklace, and chest in the room. We've no reason to rob whoever's living here. "Someone's been squatting here, but I don't think it's anything to worry about. Let's move on, before the Hellknights catch up."
While Eklektos and Derek discuss healing magics, Del reaches around in the sewage to find his hat. Standing up, he tips it over to pour out the vile contents. It probably can't be salvaged. He looks down the sewer in the direction the party came. He wonders how long this light spell is going to last. It'll be a dead giveaway of their passage, but he says nothing of it. "Janiven, how much further is the safehouse?" Turning to the rest: "Semenya found a suspicious room ahead. I'm going to go take a look at it." He whispers his message to Semenya: "They're healing up now. I'm on my way. Are there any more markings on the walls near that room?"
Actions:
standard action: aid another CMB vs 10:
move action to E1 Del tries again to get a grip on the croc, but again finds himself slipping into the muck. "Bah! He's all yours, Arodio." Del steps back, trying to sweep the muck off his coat.
Del mutters under his breath as he rushes to the fight. "What have I gotten myself into?" He wraps his arms around the croc's head, trying to pry its jaws off Eklektos.
Del's arms fail to get purchase on the slippery beast, and he slides off into the muck.
DM & central group::
Del tilts his head toward the back of the party. Stop. Nature boy just let out a whistle. We may have something coming behind us. DM & Semenya:
Del whispers to Semenya: Come back, Semenya. The druid sees something behind us. We're going to check on him, and I'll fall out of range of your spell.
"Good job with the spells, you two. We haven't slowed down a bit. And good idea on the cover story, Semenya. Our identities should be safe still."
"Three Hellknights, at a four way intersection about 40 feet away from Semenya. She's waiting for us to catch up. She'll try to hypnotize them if Keegan can't put them all asleep." Semenya: "They're not looking for the markers, are they? If it looks like they already know about the safehouse, we may as well take another exit.
Semenya: "No other way around, according to Jan. How many are there? Derek says he can put some to sleep, but I don't know how many. Whether they live or die just depends on how quickly they get out of our way."
"If we must face them, we should take the fight to them. Every second we wait in ambush is more time for those on our tail to catch up." He looks back the way they came.
"Hellknights about 60' ahead of Semenya. Jan, is there another route we can take?"
If either of the goblins is on dry ground (ie, Del doesn't have to reach his hands into the muck to fish out the dead goblin), he'll search him quickly.
If both goblins are dry, or if the first one had something unusual (more than a few silver coins), Del might consider fishing the other out to search him.
Trusting that the others have the remaining goblin in hand, Del starts heading toward the downed goblin.
"That's a good idea, Derek." ... DM CH-P & Semenya:
"Semenya says there's four goblins ahead. She's going to try to talk to them. But let's close our distance in case she needs us." Del draws his short sword and starts walking faster.
"Derek, this 4-way intersection would be a good place to try and throw them off, if they're looking for these markers. Lemme see, Semenya said the legitimate one should be... ah, here." Pointing it out.
Del whispers Janiven's warning on to Semenya: "Keep an eye out for any Hellknights that might try to head us off up there."
"Good idea." whispers Del. He passes the prestidigitation idea on to Derek. "Arodio, lead the way for us, but let Semenya scout ahead of the light. She can see in the dark, and she can keep in touch with me magically, so we'll know if she needs us."
Del is okay with letting the actor wait for everyone else to climb through the trap door. He sheaths his short sword as he lets Semenya go before him, offers to help Arodio with any of his equipment "Drop it down to me!", and climbs down to wait at the bottom to catch Arodio's shield.
Del inhales audibly in frustration as he picks himself up from his chair. He puts his hat on and draws his short sword. "Shove a table against that door! Is there a back door to this place?" Del scans the room again to get a better idea of their options.
"Now I'm confused. Do you want to kill off the shadow beasts or do you want to overthrow the House of Thrune? And I'm not sure how a small group could accomplish either goal. This group of supporters you talk about - just how small is it? And if you're going to take on the House of Thrune, it seems like that'll take money. Who's backing this rebellion?"
"Perhaps Janiven knows someone with those initials? Jan, the food's been good, and I've enjoyed the company, but if there's something in particular you want to talk about, we'd better get to it so we can get home before dark."
"That's awfully decent of you. I appreciate it. Eklektos, what brings you into town from the Barrowoods? Surely Jan's messenger didn't find you out there?"
"Well, so far, Ferguson's wife and kids still want him to come home. So if he can't cut it, your grandfather might do him a favor by letting him go now, while he still has a life to go home to."
"Keegan... is that any relation to Olek Keegan of the theater? We met one of your actors - Ferguson - the other day. How would you rate him?
"You think the Shadow Beasts have been more active lately? I've wondered that myself."
Del picks up his hat and moves to the indicated table. He takes a seat facing the front window and steers Semenya to do the same. "We expecting another, Jan? It's just that you keep stealing glances at that front window."
Del thanks Keegan for the drink, and nods his acknowledgement to Arodio and Semenya. He looks at this diverse group and wonders what they have in common. "I guess we're all introducing ourselves. My name is Del Vane. I'm native Westcrown, so I know the area fairly well. I guess you could call me a locator. I find people who've gone missing, or I reacquire lost items that the owner wants back. I'm here because lately I've hit dead ends on too many missing persons to blame on the shadow beasts. Janiven has a good reputation, so I'm glad to come and hear her out." Del wears a suit typical of a working class Westcrown professional. His clothes are shades of dark grey, except for his belt, boots, and sheaths, which are unpolished black leather. He wears a short sword and dagger at his left hip. His short-brimmed hat is sitting on one of the empty tables nearby, since the coat rack that used to stand by the front door is now gone.
Everyone who arrives to the dinner on time
Spoiler: Del arrives at Vizio's Tavern promptly at the traditionally accepted dinner time in Westcrown, early enough to chat before food is served. He's decided punctuality is a virtue that would be appreciated by the honest clients he tries to attract now. He wears neutral-tone clothes appropriate for his station among the working class, but nice enough to call on a noble client. It's not uncommon for people to keep arms in a dangerous city like Westcrown, but Del wears his discreetly.
He picks out the hostess and greets her first: "Well met, Janiven. Your messenger has a flair for the dramatic. He had me suspicious of your invitation. Listen, I know an acting troupe I could introduce him to, if he'd like to try legitimate theater." He acknowledges the guests that have already arrived, singling out any if he recognizes them, including Semenya if she's already arrived before finding a seat.
DM & Semenya
Spoiler: [upon learning that Janiven is staying at the tavern] "It sounds like the message is from her, so I feel better. But I know you always like to be prepared for trouble. I'll let you get ready, and I'll meet up with you at the dinner. I'd like to come a little better prepared myself." He shares what he knows of the tavern and Vizio (if there is a Vizio) (Knowledge: local: ), tips his hat to his partner of late, and heads back in the direction of his office/home.
Legitimate or not, the note sounded a little more... political than Del is usually concerned. He'd just been bothered by a larger number of unsolved missing persons cases lately. But maybe Janiven has info on them. He heads back to the office to refresh his memory of his most recent unsolved cases, and see if the missing persons have anything in common. (Perception: )
DM & Semenya
Spoiler: "Dress inconspicuous. We'll just be casing her place or tailing her before dinner. If she meant to be so subtle, she may feel she's being watched. I don't want to bring ourselves any unwanted attention by contacting her in the open. But while we keep an eye on her, we can see if anyone else is tailing her, too."
Derek and anyone else with a DC 10 Knowledge local or Diplomacy check ** spoiler omitted ** DM & Semenya Spoiler: For now, Del decides to treat the message with the discretion with which it was delivered. He indicates to Semenya that they shouldn't discuss it until they're in a more secluded spot: "Ah, bugger! I seem to have left my coinpurse at home. Can you get this tab [handing the note across the table] and I'll pay you back when we swing by the office?" When they get to a secluded spot, Del hands her coins for the breakfast, and says, "Sorry if I seem too cautious. I don't know why Janiven felt she needed to send this cryptic note, if it's really from her. I'd like to track her down this morning, if we can, see if she's making movements towards this meeting, or if someone's used her name as a lure to some kind of trap."
Testing the dice function:
I guess you hit preview to see what you roll so you can comment based on the roll. Will post to IC later or tomorrow morning when I get a chance.
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