Adrien's duelist's experiences, forged by a lifetime in dangerous groups like thieves' guilds, and further enhanced by the turmoil in Yartar, turns what could have been a decapitation into something much less fatal.
Yet the threat of a second sweep still presents itself, as Grimgar turns to retreat through a wall, clearly intending to use his advantage for hit and run tactics.
It's immediately clear what he can do in a situation like this, stone walls all around, with many doors to hide behind. Using stealth and speed, he'd be able to approach the battle with a advantage of a positioning, able to come out of any wall, hide in any room.
It would take splitting up to keep an eye on anywhere he could BE, and any vulnerability could be exploited by Grimgar's own training as an assassin.
He murdered a Zhentarim officer in his own base> Being able to phase through walls, to be enhanced with stone as powerful defensive tool, clearly able to deflect the worst of any blow with his rocky exterior, would just make matters for the bogsharks dangerous going forward.
So, his intentions are clear, as he hurries toward the wall to disappear, potentially winding up in any of the rooms by the time the others could react.
He looks back, seeing the less-than-fatal gash spilling with blood at Adrien's neck, and knowing he missed the mark.
Well, there is always next try. Adrien looked like just a little bit more would break him, to finally shut his arrogant mouth and prevent him from even being able to betray any of his family. He will keep them all safe, he will protec-
It's too late to edit my post, but I would like to mention that the short sword I'm using to cut Adrien's hair is my infamous magical blade, nicknamed by the bogshark elites as "Grimgar's Trollsplitter".
Initiative:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
[dice=Initiative with disadv (assuming it counts as "Ability check")]1d20+4[/dice]
Grimgar reaches out toward the top of Adrien's head with his free hand, as he brings his sword up with his other toward his throat, literally as thunder crashes in from outside.
This spoiler is META Knowledge, for story telling. Consider all knowledge within unknown by your characters, of course, and read it only if you want to step back and see the narration for things you normally wouldn't see in character.
Read it if you want, skip it if you'd like
Where is Grimgar Darkshank?:
Grimgar narrowed his eyes, determined. His heart pounded in his chest as he slipped further away from the sounds of talking, reuniting people.
He rolled his last GOOD potion into the room with Trissae as she fought the dragon. Alone. It took some effort not to run into the room and use Trissae's distraction to gut the beast, but... That would have dropped his invisibility. He still needed to go unseen.
Still, It did not make him happy to leave her there. He was acting... Too foolishly, he knew. He shouldn't have panicked when he remembered the prisoner's ledger, knowing full well that he should have THOUGHT that his name would be in the ledger. He cursed himself for not disposing of it sooner when he broke Feng out, but he was too busy carrying her in his arms as her acidic wounds dripped pain down his arms and chest. He didn't have the time to waste, and his potions were running thin.
And who would have thought the young, idiotic, naively optimistic Trissae would be so... So willing to HELP him?! Him of all people, turning herself in to help him get his stupid f@&%ing "gorka mork"?! He rolled his eyes in the memory of her mispronouncement of the uncommonly sentimental orcish word.
She should hate him, not help him. He was being foolish. About that anyway. The rest... The rest wasn't foolish, it was necessary. But still, she would hate him. She wouldn't even be IN this f%~$ing city if...
... They nearly hanged her. But instead, Mornak did what he couldn't. Mornak did something stupid enough to get himself killed, and he did it to save Trissae. Forcing the Waterbaron to change the plans of Lord Frostheight's original first execution, the evil drow, to that of the hobgoblin hermit.
Grimgar gritted his teeth. Mornak. He LOST Mornak. Stupid. STUPID. He had planned so carefully to keep that from happening, to lose ANY Bogshark to Yartar's justice, but the cursed gods damned Horr Nat Alkogh B~#&% of a storm made everything so unpredictable.
And Frostheight...
Grimgar clenched his fast as he neared a wooden door set into the stone wall. Bullywugs nearby listened to the talking Shields and Bogsharks, and counting their dead. The wagon which charged through behind a magical ELEPHANT crushed many, and made the rest reconsider. Some eye'd the doorway, thinking about escaping from all the madness of the citadel into the wet, marshy grasslands outside of the city.
Making sure none were too close, Grimgar knocked gently on the door and steeled himself. There was still time to make Mornak's sacrifice worth it. His plan could still work.
Rapping his knuckles against the wood, he waited and knocked again. 'Caira!' he hisssed beneath the crack at the bottom of the door, laying prone, unseen and barely heard.
'Caira, open up. I'm here to rescue you. Get your s~@! and let me in.' He put on hand on his hip as he waited for Caira to respond, resting right next to his short sword, dripping in the last of his poison.
Feh, another waste, he thought to himself. He had his chance to kill Adrien right then, but his shot missed the man by inches, wasting the poison and the opportunity. Probably killed some Shield woman at least, so least there was that...
Grimgar takes his talisman back after the tense moment of Trissae's implied ultimatum. Trissae may have only needed to ask for it, but it's clear that wasn't an option for Grimgar. He's not a talker. Getting his talisman back on his own probably would have required violence.
"What?! Don't be a fool, there's no gain for us in hunting a DRAGON!" He says when Trissae takes a left turn at the intersection, putting the door of contraband at her back and following the acid marks burned into the floor.
Eventually drops of dark blood stain the floor as well as she walks, unable to tell if Grimgar still follows.
Then, she sees the door. its reinforced wood, the handle and lock clawed open so the door is ajar. a blood stain is smeared by the door, and dragged inside. soft chewing and tearing can be heard within. 20 feet before the door is an alcove set into the wall including a torch sconce and a large, leatherbound book. It is bookmarked, and sitting closed beneath the unlit torch. A vial of ink sits spilled nearby.
In the tunnel outside of the dungeon room, yet before the intersection, you hear Grimgar's voice growl out, low and quiet. "Good work. Let's get the gear and hurry back. It sounded like Splotz might be here, and if he is things are about to get weirder and messier before they get any easier." he says, apparently having no interest in actually hunting a dragon for the Shields.
Ahhh! I didn't realize any spell broke invis. Interesting!
The sound of Grimgar approaching the rightward tunnel scrapes slightly on the floor past Trissae. "Hmmm... There's plenty of corridor between us and whatever pet dragon the Shields and found. Nothing down that way but where they kept Feng, the private cells. So long as the Shields aren't keeping a hell hound in their trousers, I say we ignore the dragon and stick to the mission."
Then he passes by the wooden door, and you see the metal ring lift from the door as Grimgar tests it. The door is held fast, a keyhole showing just above the ring. "Might be worth checking in here for Giant and Feng's stuff." he says, omitting Caira's name. "Though I'm not sure I want to be carrying around all that gear. Maybe we'll take a stop by here on the way out, if we get the opportunity."
"Unless there's something you want before you turn yourself over to the bleeding Shields?" He still sounds disapproving.
Ilmater's tears! You just talked stone into doing what you want.
Grimgar obviously bristles when Trissae pulls her hand free and condemns him.
"Trissae, they'll be fine upstairs. They'll eat the bullywugs alive. Bullywugs are morons.. " he said, nearly sulking to her tone. "All I do in this city is for my family. Every moment my heart beats inside of these damn stone walls, it's doing so for the Bogsharks."
"This is personal, but it isn't slight. I'm looking for... Eugh, there's not a good word for it. My... GrokaMor'. My... Talisman. That strange metal vessel with sand inside..." he immediately becomes embarrassed, talking about this object openly. "The strange can I usually keep clipped to my belt."
As long as Grimgar has been Grimgar, he would occasionally been spotted with this strange object. Story is that he found it while living as an Urchin within Yartar. No one knows who made it, or for what purpose. Equally mysterious is its contents, though Grimgar believes it contains some kind of 'heavy sand'. Sometimes, when in a bad mood, Grimgar would be found sulking not far away from the group holding this object in his hand, and bringing peace to himself by shaking it gently, calming his nerves as he had done ever since he was alone in a city of people who wanted him dead.
"The daft b&&*! sold it for easy coin when she was too busy laughing with her friends here in Yartar to properly do her job. She. Sold. It! Well, before everything went to total s#&! I had tracked down where it went, getting sold from person to person. Once it got lost, taken from some guy who was knifed in the gutter, but then it appeared in the Shields. Whoever took in the corpse must have kept it for themselves. Well, I know who has it, and if they're still alive then there held up with it here in the citadel! I need it back Trissae, I..." He fumbles for words, clearly distressed without this item he's had since an urchin.
He puts his palms up, pleading for understanding. "What am I supposed to do?"
He listens to Trissae's plan, clearly not happy with it, but resigned. "You shouldn't be down here, turning yourself in to these a!*&#~!s to help me get back my GrokaMor'. This was supposed to be me, Trissae. Just me. But, okay. You make sense, you're better with words and I'm better at shadow-work. Find Keberts, he's got it. If I see him no promises I won't just to pick-pocket it off of him, but I'll signal you if I do and we should just get the f*+$ out of here. When you're ready?"
When Trissae says she's ready, Grimgar takes her by the hand again and places something in it, and in a moement she recognizes it as a dagger. "Draw my blood, break the spell on yourself." he says, positioning Trissae's hand so the blade is against his skin. "Then head downstairs and find the Shields. I'll be with you."
init:1d20 ⇒ 3+?
grimgar stealths quietly through the room, bonus action to dash as well. He aims to get to the other side of the portcullis without alerting anyone.
"Ch! Then why didn't you just say that!" Grimgar complains when Grellik further explains what he meant about invisibly opening doors. The eyeroll is apparent in his tone, no visibility required.
Before heading out, Grimgar is heard talking softly to Feng. Feng hugs the air, giving Nothing a pat on the back before breaking the strange hold.
"Alright, the doors are yours. Through the front then? If we get separated from each other, just meet up near the front doors. To the... Left of it, I guess, if there are guards right on it. You lead the way, and if we see the front doors kicked open we all hurry. Got it."
"Grellik." Grimgar says. "We can't use ropes to keep us all together. We'll just have to travel close, holding on to one another at best."
"Finaly, our route... Once we cross the bridge we have our pick at entrances. We can climb up the building to the hole in the roof, maybe enter their throne room that way. Or, we can drop down from the far side of the bridge onto the landing below, and make for the secret entrance. Or, we can try the doors. Thoughts?"
"So be it." Grimgar says, pocketing the stone and standing... Invisibly.
"It's a raid, we're using raid rules. Grellik, you can order everyone but me. It'll be easier that way. I'll use my own best judgement. Consider this raid ran by both of us, you with three under you, me with none.
You three, take his f$!+ing orders like all of our lives depend on it. You won't take them from me, right? Well he's your raid leader, so f*!~ing follow every order he gives!
Besides that, you know the rules. Be strong. Be smart! And don't forget to Smile."
You can hear his voice muffle as he places on his grinning Bogshark Mask.
Please redescribe your masks as you put them on. Also, does anyone remember what Grimgar's was? I can't find it! Otherwise, I'm cool with ideas of what his might look like.
"If we can skip the shopping, I'd say we go for it." Grimgar interjects into the conversation, his keen mind thinking.
He gestures to Grellik. "Open doors? We can open doors, trust me. I've used that enchantment plenty in my work. Don't stab anyone and you should be okay. You can loot, open doors, eat, piss and screw without an invisibility enchantment dropping. Maybe don't kick anything open, I've never tried it myself, but you hear stories..."
He then turns to Trissae
"You really think you could pull all of that off?" he seems ready to grab his bag.
Insight 11:
Grimgar's eyes occasionally flick over to Adrien when the man talks, and then again after he's done. He is appraising the human, maybe even reappraising him. Cavell's participation in the planning surprises Grimgar.
"Don't think I've got anything useful on me. We'd have to go shopping, and we probably don't have enough time to be thorough.
Esklindrar’s IS close though, and she's know to keep scrolls at times. Maybe. What else?"
Grimgar sighs heavily when Trissae mentions the time frame. He rubs his eyes, clearly beyond tired.
"Right." he says, speaking with his hand still over his eyes. "If they say before noon, we probably have at least a couple of hours, so let's not run out the door to try and swim across the river."
"The only idea I've got to cross the river, besides just running across the bridge like a bunch of idiots, isn't much better. Beldabar has a smuggling port beneath the bridge we might be able to use, but he isn't too likely to take a request from me."
He thinks about this, and shakes his head. "F@#@!" he exclaims. "You lot might be able to talk him into using his port, maybe a boat if he's still got one working. But if I'm with you there's no way he'll lend the favor. You'd have to go without me, and I'd need to find my own way across."
He lets go of his face, and looks at everyone. "Any other options?"
"Yeah, they are Bane cultists. A dangerous bunch, but valuable contacts all the same. I've never told them who I work with, throughout all of our dealings. I suppose until today, they never knew I was a Bogshark. That's over now, from Cavell's insistence with telling everyone who we are!" He growls this last, clearly annoyed with the human's indiscretions.
"They were ready for me to start s+@$. They weren't necessarily ready for Bogsharks."
Using his well proven stealth, Grellik makes it safely to the group of Adrien, Ozz and Grimgar not far away from the meeting spot with Grimgar's contact.
Grimgar gives Grellik a nod before turning to Adrien. "I hope you got your fill of info from them. It's too late to ask any follow up questions. Let's go. You can fill us in somewhere safe."
If anyone wants to do anything before returning to the base with Feng, speak up. It's up to you lot when you safely return back to room off of the alley. Expect no diversions or distractions not of your own making.
Either group of you can get to the base first. It seems about even odds that either would get their before the other, so I have no preference.
"Not sure..." Grimgar said, looking over his shoulder. "I got a glimpse of him on the building you were talking under. Nearly missed him, he's really tucked in there. Maybe he's waiting for a better time to sneak away..."
"Alright. Once we're ready... Ozz, you'll take Cavell and head down there. Be cautious, but try to keep from seeming like you're skulking for any reason more than the obvious threats the city has right now. Find this Shield woman, and speak with her. I'd avoid letting her guide the meeting, in case they have something planned. While you're talking to her, ask questions about the Citadel. You too, Cavell, don't leave all the work to Ozz. Make sure the important s+!% gets asked. We need to know the best way to get in there, what the bullywugs have, where are friends are... Anything useful about the Shields, such as Irontooth's position."
"Meanwhile Grellik, are plan is simpler. Lurk around, keep your eyes open for danger, and cover their backs. If you see a threat, and not just them keeping an eye right back on us, strike first. Strike loudly, let us all know we're getting set up! If anyone gets separated, meet back at Beldabar's."
"Now you two, run off. We'll give you a couple minutes to get in position. We don't all want to be seen going up there together. It'll ruin our advantage if a fight breaks out."
Grellik:
After the two head off toward the compound, Grimgar gently, but firmly, takes your shoulder. "When it's safe. Look at this." he hands you a scroll case, removing it from his bag before pushing it against your chest.
"I've had it confirmed. It's all there. Judge for yourself." he says, looking uncertain about how Grellik will act. "I'm not some rabid dog, Grell. You go left, I'll go right. Remember, to keep an eye out for their boss, big man in heavy armor. He's trouble."
Grimgar will then pull away and start heading to get into position.
"Building I think..." Grimgar voices, watching Adrien's acrobatic ascent up the building. "We aren't far away from our location. We get up there, scout things out, and I'll explain more of the plan. We should be able to see the meeting sight from up there. Still, if you need to lose someone, The Kiss might be a good place to lose them, if you can get in. They'll demand you disarm, but just push through and lose yourself in the crowd, find another way out, and meet at Beldabar's."
Grimgar follows Adrien up the building, using the same route, swinging off of a loose shutter to a better handhold.
Grimgar grunts to Grellik's assessment. "But Cavell has a point, there." he allows with some difficulty. "Only trust people in his position so far. If I understand it right, he's a kind of hostage. He may think himself honorable, but honor breaks. Maybe not here, but soon he might break his word, and help them take you again."
Grimgar thinks for a moment. "But Frostheight's pet mage could be valuable. Making him give you information was a good idea, we owe Feng's life to that decision, if he's right about how turning into an elemental comes on the heels of talk. We may have acted with only minutes to spare."
"Dolson Marr has talent, but very little guidance. Still, despite his lack of experience with combat magic, he should always be considered a threat. If he wanted to stop us... If he decided to break his word, I have no doubt he'd give us a lot of trouble."
Grimgar nods with confidence as his plan is accepted, at least for now. He listens intently to the talk of the counter wits.
"Know em only by reputation. They didn't buy much I sold, though a fence once told me that they would buy some of our loot. That's why I started recommending you strip heraldry from horses and wagons, my fences think they'll buy it. It'll probably take some work to get the bullywugs out of their new castle of theirs in any serious way. I think Splotz said they tend to defend their nobles really carefully, and that their nobles don't go outside and put themselves in danger. I hope these guys can work BIG, if you want them to draw off significant numbers. I heard they once arranged the over-night demolition of a nobleman's house before they could return from their visit with family across town. Some kind of rich-person rivalry. They came back to a lot with grass and trees, like a park had been there the whole time. If these aren't just stories, and they can actually pull stuff off like that, then hopefully they can do something just as big to get the frog's notice."
At first it seems like Grimgar is heading toward the buildings the Zhents are using, where you started your little war. But it turned out to just be a quick route. He detoured slightly and then headed further north again, toward the Cointoss's direction. Or maybe Dart's house. He continues planning while you travel to the meet location closer to the old quarantine.
"We're meeting at a courtyard behind a couple of upper-end businesses. Paper pushers, and solicitors, that kind of thing. There are a couple of two story buildings framing a bricked and tree planted courtyard. It's got a little pond in the middle they keep fish in sometimes." He takes a minute, realizing that the fish would most certainly be all dead now.
"Cute place. They pay for lots of extra Red Coats to hang around, it's kind of a common place on their regular beat. Makes the businesses feel safe, y'know? Real great place when you want to meet with a Shield that's really in someone's pocket. No one is surprised to see them hanging out there, chatting with random people."
"That's our contact. She's got rank with the Shields, and can spy for information for her real masters. I'm not actually sure who their Shield plant is, but that's our contact. I paid a lot to convince them that speed was worth their agent's potential discovery. No time to have them middle man it for me. I need questions answered! They said 'she', so it makes me think it's going to be one of two Shield women. One is this half-orc bruiser. Has this axe on a pole as a weapon, and she's good with it. I'd recommend range and poison. You two fight defensively, and I'll find a chance to take her out."
"The other is a half-elf. Niece to Commander Moonbrooke. Sword mage in training. Hit her hard, and never consider her unarmed. I don't know if she can do your sword summoning trick yet, Grellik, but her aunt is certainly teaching her. She can do some limited combat magic."
"There's the possibility of a few others, but none of them has the rank. Haven't looked into them too much. Spearwomen, the lot. Nia, Torea , Galdwith and Broalind... Just seem like your regular, troops. No surprises from them."
"As for our contact's actual masters. There are many which we need to look out for. 7 of them would be all I'd worry about, the rest are just the help, apprentices or acolytes or whatever. They've got magic, they've got sneaks, they've got muscle. The worst is their leader, if he's there we should expect something to go down, or that he really thinks that I'm going to start something. He might think that... I might DO it if I smell a trap, if it helps us get out of there alive. Their leader is huge, hits like a truck, and never seems to go down permanently. He's got a devilish mind, too. You're going to want to watch your tongue around him, but I doubt he'll show himself until he has to. If we see him, and a fight starts, it's probably best to strike and escape. But only if we're sure. Don't attack unless you have to, but if you see something... Something that's more than them just keeping an eye right back at us... Make sure everyone knows to get away, and we meet at Beldabar's. Everyone know how to get there?"
"Good." Grimgar says, putting on his boots and standing up.
He grabs his pack and slings it over his shoulder with a bit of effort, clearly not quite being at his best. Partially exhausted, maybe?
"We might need him. Fill me in on the plan with these 'Wits friends of yours as we travel. What we might be able to use."[/b]
Assuming you tell him while you travel, he leads the way but periodically silences you with a gesture as he checks corners. Additionally, he pauses to ask questions like "Grellik, you think you could get onto one of these roofs quietly?"
He heads you north, generally keeping to the alleys. Periodically he'd leave the alleys, gesturing everyone that it's safe to hurry down a street at a quick clip, cover some distance with little fear of being seen by guards, dazers, and bystanders. Like Ozz in the swamps of the Evermoores, Grimgar navigated this city like a ranger.
You all learn several convenient back roads to use, much safer than traditional routes, traveling north and south in Yartar.
"Ozz. Going to need you to act as bait on this one. No promise a fight will break out, but if it does, it's best you be front and center. Cavell, you're with him. You two will be what any trap closes around. Grellik and I will lurk about. Check the area for their allies, or any hirelings. Make sure that if a trap is happening, we're there to keep it from closing on you. To take advantage. I can tell you who I know, and what to expect from them."
Grimgar growls a bit as he speaks in response to Adrien, not to the man himself but to the ideas his words provoke. "Tonight? What gave you that idea? We may not have that luxury. Depending on what information we get, we might have to leave sooner than we'd like. Very rarely do we get to pick the times of our battles. Be ready to move at any time, and if we need to move without all of our plans in place, then that's what we'll do."
"And no, the sword isn't Silvers'. If I saw her, I wouldn't be trying to take anything off of her. I value my head, and even with one leg I think she might try to take it. Nor is she in a stockade. Many Shields were temporarily imprisoned for a while, after the witching was suspected... But with Moonbrook vanished, and the city tearing itself apart, all Shields who choose to, no matter how untrained, how injured, or how criminally or magically suspect, are being allowed to help. Silvers isn't the only Shield who has lost a limb, and many are out there on the streets. From what I hear, because of her own suggestion. Captain Wen has given control of the irregulars over to Silvers. She is leading a team of people trying to help or die trying, their injuries be damned. She's out there."
"So, at least two things we need to do. Meet my contacts and speak with the Counterwits, get things moving there as well. Can just one of you speak with them? I'd prefer to have as many people on hand when I head out to speak with my contacts as, unfortunately, peace wasn't explicitly part of our arrangement and they're right tricky f##*s."
"What else do we got? Where else can we get resources quick? I can think of a few places we could knock over for weapons, potions... Maybe a couple of scrolls. They aren't without risk, but I think one or two of us might be able to pull it off if needed."
Grimgar listens to Trissae and Grellik. He gives a nod to Trissae having curried favor with some of the Shields.
"I heard. Something about Shields getting arrested by Shields, witched by a Bogshark. Good idea, get them fighting more with each other and less with us. We can use that. You'll have to share who we will most likely be able to get to fight with us, if we need it." he adds
(We can just say you share that during the hour of preparation before meeting with the contacts, if you want)
He thinks about Grellik's words, his eyes focused on the bugbear, relieved that he seemed focused in the right things, his ideas clear.
As he's thinking of his next move, Adrien speaks up in response to Grellik's gaze.
Grimgar looks over at Adrien instantly, like a dog smelling an enemy. His hackles almost seem to raise as he gives Adrien an immediate, icy glare and a couple of cold, biting words.
"Are you even going to try?" he growls, frowning at Cavell's cavalier posture and his lack of involvement in the plan. "If you want to save them, help plan! What do you know? What can we use?"
He pops the knuckles of his toes as he stares at Adrien.
Grimgar gives Adrien a slow nod, sits down, and removes his boots. He starts looking them over, and pouring out a small amount of water collected from the storm. He talks while doing this.
"Sort of. I think I know all of the ways in, but the one I'd normally use, the one I used to get Feng out, the Bullywugs know of. It's accessible from the river. My contacts will be able to tell me how many bullywugs there are, where they're concentrated within, who is left of our side, where they might be kept, and the count, positions, and orders of the remaining Shields still within. Anything the Shields will know, I'll know."
He sets his boots upside down to dry, for all the good it'll do.
He nods over at Adrien. "Nicked that from a Shield with one leg while I was out. They keep their equipment in good condition."
"One thing you guys should know, I'll know for sure after we speak with our contacts, but... The Zhentarim have agents within the Citadel, as members of the Shields and as staff and administrators within that run the ledgers and all that city s!%! the merchants worry about. Paperwork, you know? Igna's kind of s~&&. The Zhents are going to be on the defensive right now, I made sure they wouldn't be coming after us for some time. The agents that are stuck in that citadel though? They might still be a problem. I imagine most of the people in there, Zhent or otherwise, will just want to get out alive. We can use that if any of them have survived. I'll know if they had based on the information we get."
"Any other questions? I imagine there are going to be a lot of enemies in there, and we should have no idea on how to deal with them. Bullywugs, fight in narrow corridors and don't let ourselves get cornered. But then there are the Shields, the possible Zhents, and any scared idiot who is blaming us for all the s$#& going on. Ideas on how we can deal with these problems?"
Grimgar tosses a shield rapier to Cavell, from his pack and frowning at the man as he sits with his feet kicked up.
Grellik:
He looks tired, annoyed, but not currently murderous.
---------
"Got a contact to meet in a couple of hours. You should all come with me, I don't like these guys knowing where I'm going to be, but if we want their information, we'll have to play their game. We'll need to head out in an hour to make the meeting."
The door is nearly inaudible when it finally opens, but it is still quite obvious when it does. The storm becomes louder suddenly, and then mutes again a moment later. No foot falls are heard, but after another moment a cloaked figure enters the candle light at the base of the stairs. Grimgar.
He gives everyone a look, pulls off his back to place near the bed, and pulls back his hood. He looks exhausted. Dark circles ring under his eyes and one of his hands are shaking slightly. He doesn't appear injured though.
Feel free to keep the conversation going, just doing a cut away to Grimgar for the sake of storytelling.
Hours ago...:
Grimgar hustles through the city streets, shaking the fight with Grellik from his mind. Trying to, anyway.
"Sided with that dog, huh..." he nearly chuckles to himself as he runs through the alleys in the single quickest way to get from the place he was using as a hideout, to one of his contacts. It's not a happy laugh. It's a laugh he only does when he's alone.
The look on Grellik's face when he denounced him, and took the side of Adrien still stung.
"Siding with that DOG?!" he laughs again, in frustrated disbelief. An angry laugh. A not entirely sane laugh. "Going to get Giant eaten by f@~@ing frogs... What a fool!"
He heads North, toward the quarantine area. The quarantined area that was before the entire town became such. Grimgar didn't even need to use the Shield tower as a landmark anymore. He could use the stones beneath his feet, and never let the rain into his eyes.
A chipped stone here, end of the alley and wall ahead. Sharp right and into the street. Should be empty. Keep going, in case there are any dazers. Don't let them notice you, keep moving past them. They won't chase you. Missing brick, climb the wall here. Window ledge, pipe... Upper balcony, and onto the roof. Stay low, but this roof is flat enough to keep from slipping in the rain. Make it another street over without needing an alley
He grits his teeth, his smile gone as he reaches for a clip near his potions at the small of his back. "Then he'll know what it means to have your actions cost lives... My fault? Like hell! He demands we work like idiots? Bloods on his hands."
His fingers find the clip empty. Of course they did. It didn't have it anymore. SHE got rid of it. Grimgar grits his teeth and remembers.
---
'Caira and Grimgar shared a room in Yartar, to share information and plan a job. Grimgar woke to find Caira missing. He usually woke whenever she did, but this time the sound of her walking around didn't do it. It was as if he was starting to get comfortable with her.'
'He shakes his head and heads to his pack to grab some food. He's surprised to find it open already, the top clasps undone and the top flap open. He pauses stunned, before growling and moving over to his bag. '
'His purse was gone. He knew it would be, he had set it out from it's normal spot last night. Usually he kept it between his back-up rations and a small, padded box which contained his poisons, Last night, however, he had set it out for Caira to take with her this morning. She had no reason to go through his bag'
'He finds his sword belt, with all the little loops on the back for his potions. Two are missing. His eyes immediately go to the clip danging from one hoop, a clip usually connected to a leather thong which kept a small, openless metal can in place. '
'As he grinds his teeth, Caira enters whistling. He looks up at her, and shouts as soon as the shuts the door.'
"Where's it at?"
"Uhhh, goodmorning to you too sunshine. Where's what?" she brushes hair out of her face and offers a warm pastry.
"My... The can! The can on my sword belt." He shakes it at her, to demonstrate the obvious.
She laughs with understanding. "Oh, I talked some guy into buying it. You said we needed more money, and that thing looked interesting. I got 2 gold for it, though I think the poor guy was too busy looking at my chest than at what I was selling him, you know?" She laughs again, rolling her eyes at the idea of someone who could be so easily persuaded.
"Should I have got more?" she adds, uncertainly
'Grimgar just shakes his head, and Caira takes her hand back from offering him the pastry. She just slowly backs up and out of the room. She had seen Grimgar angry before. Now he looks furious! Best to give him some space...'
'Livid, he just shook with rage. He couldn't even explain WHY it was so important to him. It just calmed his nerves. The sound of it shaking gently, the sandy substances inside jostling inside made him feel at peace. It had ever since he was a kid, and found it. He had no idea what it was, he could never figure out how to open it, but he kept it with him always. Shaking it used to let him stop thinking about his hunger, or how the other kids might kill him one day. It let his mind quiet enough to sleep in the gutter.'
---
Back in the alleys of Yartar, he passes an alcove on a roof he once used when he was younger, a couple decades ago. Spotting a kid in the spot shaking with cold, he absently tosses a bit of food and a copper piece next to the sleeping kid without stopping. The motion is practiced. He knows all of the spots that the kids try to get sleep, to be safe. He knows very few of them would be dazers. They're too careful. They have to be. Mistakes made urchins die.
As he crosses the roof, jumping down onto some crates that were always there, his hand finding the clip empty again. A curses himself. A habit he has had trouble breaking. Still, he kept the clip. As a reminder not to let his guard down. Ever.
Climbing up the next roof with ease, he catches sight of the three story housing to the West, and stops in his tracks. His mind suddenly starts working.
"Bet they're good and pissed off. Grasper will remember this... Unless..." He nods to himself as he comes to a decision. Contacting more scouts for info on the Citadel would have to wait. If the Zhents were left unattended...
He laughs again, a bit more wild. This might actually be fun, even if it's just more work he's got to take care of. "Not gunna let Grellik get anymore of us killed!"
It shouldn't be too long of a detour. Grimgar had been preparing for this day. Zhents weren't to be trusted. But they had order. He knew that if their boss would die, their operation would have to go defensive. Shut down all but the necessary business. Wait for their replacement to come while the lieutenants kept the discipline. The Zhents knew exactly how to enforce their business. A knew leader would come in, but it'd take some time and there would be adjusting time. Grimgar might even be able to threaten the new guy and get the Zhents in his pocket. They wouldn't have the time to wage a war. Grimgar had been scouting their compound since they moved in there. He knew the best way to get in.
He downs one more healing potion as he travels in the dark of night. Just in case. Grimgar takes a detour from talking with his contacts so he could go murder Gasper.
"Yes, Adrien charged the gallows itself, alone, and what happened to him? I see him laying in the other room, unmolested by those who captured him. They HAD him, and they let him live. Twice they had the chance to kill him for his attack, but they let him live. I hear they were very gentle! Ozz and I fought to the death to keep them from overwhelming us. We pulled off at least a dozen guards, and they were aiming to kill. How lucky for Adrien that his foes were more merciful..."
He realizes that the part-timer isn't to be dissuaded, and time is too short. He makes his compromise.
"You think you know how the world works, that everything is how you imagine it to be. But I also know you are one bound to reason. Consider my words and consider your feelings. Consider the vast quantities of things you do not know, and that I have no time to explain, that can help us. Remember your training as a knight, you talked of an order of command, and why it is necessary. You can't count on Ozz to make the choices, he's too simple. You can't count on Trissae, she's too naive. YOU must see reason. YOU must make the choices that can get you all killed. Put your lot in with that human dog if you want, but know that if your refusal to accept my lead results in another massive f@%$ up like this..!" he points to the letter still in Grellik's hand. The letter Grimgar sees only as an incredible mistake Grellik has made, one that could have potentially killed Giant already. The same letter Grellik uses as his ammo against Grimgar. "Then know that the deaths will be on YOUR head, not mine. You have rejected my offer to burden this responsibility. It's on YOU now. Adrien is no brother of mine, not yet. Not until I am certain. Trust him if you have to, wait for him to betray you before you'll believe me, and with luck your own life will be the first he takes. "
He takes a step away, heading toward the edge of the roof, shouting over the storm. "At least then you won't have to witness the rest of the lives your choices have led to ruin! I'll be back before dawn. Ready yourselves for war!"
Grimgar never threatens Grellik, his tone is one of horrible understanding, of frustrated impotence, and of deep, old regrets.
He jumps off of the edge of the building, grabs and slides down a gutter, and disappears into the storm and growing night. Alone.
Resume the scene inside however you wish, but work toward a rest please.
Totally cool that you took your mask off. If he were wearing his (I forget if he was), he's taken his off as well.
Grimgar listens in a dour silence as Grellik speaks, his posture not of one of submission, but one of intense focus, and some strained composure. Grimgar follows Grellik when he walks away from him. He imposes himself onto the Bugbear, demanding to be heard. "Listen to me, you arrogant pup!" he barks as he often does when scolding a newer Bogshark. Which is often. There are very few people who have been in the Bogsharks for as long as Grimgar, and no one for longer. "You vacation taking, zealot! If you didn't get carried away from us so often because of your obsession with your master, you'd might have seen what I've seen. That you'd know what I know. Now listen carefully because what I know might save all of our lives."
He stands tall, not backing down in the slightest despite his desperate wounds. "Ozz and I rained thunder to save Mornak!" he gestures to the sky to emphasize his point. "... onto the guards at the gate! Cavell would never have gotten anywhere as close if we didn't draw guards. We both took arrows, Grellik!"
"I've been with the Sharks since the start, Grellik, since I was a kid! Your master was friends with Father (A term the original surviving group of Bogsharks use for the man who started it, deceased), but I knew him personally. He taught me how to use a sword! I'm a full-time, life-long Bogshark, kid. I came up with the idea to use MASKS for crying out loud. The others seem to be following your lead, but I outrank you AND no one knows Yartar better than I. You'll all be taking orders from me, and I'll tell you why."
He points at the bugbear, gesturing with authority. "I mean you no disrespect Grellik, but you're the part-timer here. I'm working for the Sharks EVERY day, I never disappear for months. I've never taken a break, or let a Shark go in the group unnoticed by me. I have vetted everyone in the group now, saved for a few. Adrien, and Caria. You may not have been with the group then, but we've had Bogsharks not work out before. The Boss isn't perfect, he makes mistakes. It's up to everyone to look out for trouble in the gorup, to keep an eye on any bad seeds. To keep the Sharks strong!"
"You may not know what's best for the sharks, but I do. The others are still pups, and we both know Ozz isn't the cleverest of the lot of us. I can't have you second guessing all my plans, ruining more of the work I've done to get into the citadel. You'll get more of us killed. Remember, you just confessed THAT YOU DIDN'T TRY TO SAVE MORNAK!!" He shouts this over the storm, apparently interpreting your defense of Adrien as a condemnation of yourself... He looks furious, and incredibly disappointed with you.
"Adrien was the only one who managed to even try to save Mornak" - you had said.
"You lot head back inside to Feng's room, get rest but be ready to move., he orders. There are some cupboards with food, water, blankets, and arrows. Use all you need. I'm going to try and arrange some last minute things. No point in anyone coming with me, you'll just slow me down. Like usual, I'll have to work alone.
"Consider this, Grellik. Adrien is the freshest shark. He's been with what? A year? Less? I had someone turn on us 2 years into their adoption, and I see a lot of that guy in Adrien... Did you know he's a noble? That's right, he's never told you about that, has he? Ask him about Adrien Mareschal of Iriaebor, see if he has any memory of his life being pampered and trained, potentially as a favor for The Lords Alliance. Get someone in a position to take us down from the inside. It isn't far fetched, you know. Silverymoon has sent agents before. We cause a lot of trouble, make a lot of enemies! While I don't trust Caira either, I wouldn't put it past Adrien to... Grellik, did you even know how they became arrested? We were SOLD OUT. One of us, one of the Bogsharks turned traitor. Have you never seriously wondered if it might be Cavell?"
We waits to see if Grellik has any last minute objections, drinking a healing potion from a side pouch on his belt, but his body language makes it clear he very much should be leaving to deal with scouting.
Insight 16:
Everything that he said is true, except for one thing. Even while he legitimately thinks that Adrien is a threat to the Bogsharks, he knows Cavell wasn't the one who sold the Bogsharks out. All the rest he believes, and he believes it enough to kill for.
Grimgar gives Grellik an odd expression, and nods, rising to his feet. "Left my weapon out there." he says, heading to the doorway back to the roof, intending Grellik to follow him and speak his mind while they regain their gear.
Grimgar stirs with a shock, sitting up so fast that his face collides with Ozz's. The two hold their faces in pain, before Grimgar gives a pained look around.
"Are we..." he looks down at Adrien, the only person not breathing.
Insight's 5 and above:
Grimgar is clearly disappointed to see Adrien breathing.
Then he looks over to Feng, to make sure she's okay. "You back with us?" he grunts.
Grimgar approaches, Grasping the sword over the fingers of the others from the other side, helping to support the sword while raising their arms up high, aiming to point toward the sky.
He pulls out a strange pendant, showing a symbol of a skull on a red crescent moon. He speaks low in orcish.
"The water tower is the highest place!" Grimgar shouts over the storm toward Trissae and the other. "I doubt we can get her up there, but maybe if we tear it down?"
Grimgar's body language demonstrates that he means for Trissae to help keep Feng calm. Trissae and Feng have a bond.
"I know of a roof we can use, the building next to us. I rented a room, and there is roof access we should be able to get to. Think that'll work? I'll head on ahead of the group a bit with Ozz, make sure everything is clear and nothing will impede you two with Feng. Sound good?"
