Pip Bernadotte and Shelly Harrison of the Wild wolves have a number of it's members enter the Command tent to discuss their next assignment; entering the tent are;
Yaz Erfryr, Valessa Bareth, Lothorian, Tobar, Zero, and Daniel.
Shelly:
Shelly addresses the group standing next to Pip in his chair
"We have a rather nasty job that we have accepted, and it needs a small yet skilled team."
Pip:
Pip adds in his french accent
"This contract is a mess, but no where near as messy as a number of the Ustalav contracts we took, heck that Helsing one cost use a number of good men. So good news is that it is not another contract in Ustalav.
Bad news is that it does somewhat involve that nation of devil worshippers and this operation needs to have a bit more of a lower profile.
As the contract is from the Andoran army, and they would like it to be a bit subtle."
Valessa enters the tent as ordered at precisely the time ordered, as has come to be expected of the ex-Gray Maiden.
The young armor clad woman listens intently to the briefing of Shelly and Pip while standing still as a statue, only rising and falling of her breastplate giving any indication that she is even alive.
"Subtle? Me? Hah, they said that Pip had a sense of humor... I stick out almost as badly as some of the cursed... more so, depending on where we are going."
Not voicing any of this, the woman merely nods wordlessly and continues to listen.
Yaz enters several minutes after Valessa, and is anything but quiet “subtle? Mayhap I don’t know the meaning o’ the word, but it seems to me that with miss shine and polish and meself, ya sorta got the opposite. So is the subtle part gonna be handle by someone else? Cause me and the Grey Lady have skills more leanen’ toward breaking skulls”
Tobar enters the tent at the proper time and listens carefully
"Well, I can be quite subtle when required. But I'm confident that the two of you would choose the best team for the job. Perhaps we should listen to the details of the job before discussing the approach that best makes use of our skills and avoids our flaws?"
Lefty enters, lowering the hood of his cloak and nodding to his many assembled friends. He grins at the barbarian.
"And that's what you do best, Yaz. I've no doubt you'll do some more of it before we're through. You can leave the subtlety to those of us who deal with that sort of thing.
Turning to Pip, he asks, "So, another sketchy deal, tolos? At least it's Andoran, this time. What do they want us to do? Mess with Ustalav? I like the sound of that."
Daniel moves into the room and sits down in the back, just as the briefing starts. He sits and listens to Pip a bit of a scowl on his face, but say snothing. At least this time, I'm going out with the team instead of being left back. Maybe I can head off any problems before they raise their ugly heads this time.
If Valessa takes any offense at Yaz's words it does not show.
"Gods, I hate it when they interrupt before we get our complete mission and parameters."
Clearing her throat, she says, "What are our orders?"
"They better not involve me taking off my face..." she mentally adds.
Yaz nods to the rest of the team as they file in, but reigns in further outbursts until Pip and Shelly detail the mission. The air around the big northerner is noticeably colder, but not uncomfortably so.
Pip:
Pip adds in his french accent
"I can understand your scoffing of subtle,
as I and the general don't want those devil worshipping f***s from Cheliax to really know who is behind what'll be done.
As I got some caps of disguise dirt cheap, mainly due to the fact they are flawed in that they only support one disguise, so you all can keep a cover while doing your job.
The mission is infiltration, gathering info, and then either capture or assassination of the last Baron of Piren’s Bluff.
You'll be needing to rendezvous with the General for some more details.
I've already got two other members sent in to act as back up should something go wrong."
Shelly:
Shelly adds
"We do have enough caps for those that can't disguise themselves.
Please try and keep any suspicion of what your doing to a Minimum.
And I do ask that you don't start any bar fights, Yaz, even if it can be fun."
Pip:
Pip adds in his french accent
"Remember if the Baron has turned to the devil worshpping f***s, odds are he'll be having a few hidden spies among the people to help keep himself in control."
Valessa holds up a hand to draw Pip and Shelly's attentions as they conclude the briefing, then points to her helm, tapping it twice. The metal of her gauntlet makes an almost bell-like ring as it connects with the faceless helm.
"I do not blend in. Are the hats big enough to fit my face... er, helm... you knew what I meant."
"Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes...."
"How certain are we that the Baron has turned to evil? Perhaps its all a rumour planted by his enemies? What does the contract say to do if he isn't evil?"
"Tobar makes a good point. We've been fooled before. We'll have to be sure. Can we do that?
Lefty turns to Shelly. "Do you have one of those hats with you? I'd like to examine it. Sometimes I can understand what a magic item does."
"If he isn't evil, we will find out in phase one and two I think. If we are in doubt, we have the option to take him alive per contract. Leaving hostile territory with a prisoner not easy, but doable."
Valessa pauses, her helmed head at an angle that seems to indicate her thinking on the topic. "Might be easier if we took another hat extra. Throw on his head and gag him... make up some story about being a heretic and being gagged lest his lying tongue be freed."
"I don't need a hat so we can use mine on him if required. Good idea"
Yaz gives Shelly a broad grin and a wink, but nods seriously at the talk of Chelaxian devil-lovers. He nods at Pip and says “We got a cover story? How will we know the agents already there?” Questions about the morality of this Baron are problems for another day, so far as he is concerned. Best get there, get the info they need, then assess what and who needs breaking.
Lefty listens, all ears. Pretty much literally.
The curtain opens and a freezing gust of wind blows in. With it comes Zero, who again was a little bit late.
"I'm so sorry. Won't happen again." She puts on a charming smile to cover her shame. Her usually blank white face even turns a hint of pink.
When everyone is staring at her with more or less anger, she says still catching her breath "so, devils, hein? Nasty..."
As the other woman enters mid brief she is greeted by the faceless visage of Valessa turning to look her in the eyes. After staying silent for a length of time one moment shy of becoming uncomfortable, she says, "No, not devils. A potentially evil alleged worshiper of them. Cheliaxian... so likely to be the case."
Valessa turns away to face Pip and Shelly again. "If you got here on time you would have known that." Not saying this, she merely adds, "If you need a hat of one disguise they have some. Still not sure if I will have to remove my fa-" catching herself almost in time, there is only a brief breath before, "- helm... in order to wear mine."
Shelly:
Shelly adds
"The Hats are good enough to change facial appearance, hair colour, and what your wearing.
Now since they are nothing more then simple visual illusions,
so disguising the gear to something similar will help with any mismatched noise your armour or gear makes.
And Tobar we already took into account your shape changing abilities so there are not any spare hats and capture would be difficult as Intel does report that there is alot and possibly even elite guards guarding the Baron."
Pip:
Pip adds in his french accent
"I had Ayla talk with some of the folks that left town to confirm rumours and it does seem he choose the f***ing Cheliaxian side.
And I recommend not causing trouble, as it is a small town and word may spread faster then you think and could get you arrested and then interrogated in the not so friendly manor.
When you meet General, he'll give you the detail of your cover and ticket into town."
Plopping a hat on his head, Yaz says "Alright. When we leavin'?"
He's not particularly know for his patience.
Valessa nods at the information and removes her helm. "Ouch! I hate taking off my face..." Wincing, she takes a hat.
The intricate pattern of scars crisscrossing her face disappear as she puts the hat on her head. Looking down she sees her illusionary hands revealed behind what look like robes.
Not satisfied with the armor result, she keeps going through the options until she finds one that yields a result that the armor is heavy enough looking for the sounds she makes walking to make sense. Seemingly satisfied, she pops her helm back on her head over the hat, it dissolving into the illusion as she does so.
"Ready when you are."
Shelly:
Shelly hands out the hats, each one have been marked to whom they likely would best match.
"These hats are all have preset illusions and automatically activate when wearing one which is the reason they were cheap.
I checked which one would best match for each person here."
Yaz now looks like a 6'3" Taldorian man with brown eyes and brown hair.
Wearing studded leather armour, and a buckler.
Valessa's scars disappear showing a new face with blue eyes and short red hair, the armour looks more like half-plate, the helm when put on hides its face plate showing the disguised face to the outside.
Shelly:
Shelly looks at Valessa's result
"Yours Valessa was a real deal in that it'll hide the face plate of the helm and folk would only see the illusion face.
As it'll help in keeping any some fights you might get into from being connected to other fights you do in the town.
As the constant wearing of the face plate in the helm might give a connection."
Pip:
in his french accent adds
"For Tobar we do still have some disguised armour in stock, from that job in Korvosa.
And I'd rather you not tip them off of who we are by fighting in your new natural form,
as I don't want us being hunted later by f***ing Cheliaxians, as they are persistent f***s."
"Uh, nice hat. I'm not sure if I need one, though. I'm not very suspicious."
Valessa nods, her illusioned face showing a small smile. "Thank you for that... courtesy. I do have one last question. Rumor reached me that a group of my sisters swore allegiance to Cheliax after the fall of th' queen." The way she says that, coupled with a facial expression that normally would have been hidden behind her helm make clear that she almost said "my queen" out of habit before catching herself. "I have reconciled myself years ago to the fact that I may have to cross blades with them one day. Is that day likely to happen on this mission?"
The pensive, but resolute, expression on her face speaks much about her thoughts about that possibility.
Daniel takes the hat handed to him and puts it on. "Well, I guess this will work. When do we leave and how long to travel there? We may want to change some of the spells we have at our disposal knowing we may be going up against devils."
Pip:
in his french accent adds
"With what intel we do have, there are no Grey Maidens in town.
Though the Keep is likely no as well, but is as yet unconfirmed."
"So far no words of devils in town, though the recent temple to the infernal Cheliaxian god may have one or two kept from view or hidden in plain sight.
I'd be more worried about the baron's new infernal hounds."
Lefty dons his hat, and laughs.
"It's hard to believe I could be any more handsome, but I think I am!
Lefty dons his hat, and laughs.
"It's hard to believe I could be any more handsome, but I think I am!
"Wait. Infernal hounds? That doesn't sound good.
"Can't say I much like the sound o' it either." Yaz adds, thinking about the devil dogs. "No point in worryin' about it 'til we get there though"
"Ah, puppy dogs! I think we can handle fiery puppy dogs. Its amazing what an arrow to the head does to even infernal hounds!"
Zero was dressed in her typical clothes as you know her. It was a decent mix of practical clothing a traveler would were, except for the very fine quality. The golden ornaments on the dark vest gave the outfit a regal touch. She almost looked like an officer of a royal guard wearing a skirt. Except she was a woman and the outfit accentuates her figure.
Zero looks around and speaks, "How about that?" With a word, her clothing changes to that of a peasant or a even a beggar. "Too much?"
Valessa's face visibly becomes less concerned at the word that no other Gray Maidens are likely to be encountered. Not even the news of infernal hounds seems to dampen that. "I stand firm in the face of danger. My armor protects me from fire and tooth as well as sword and arrow." As she says this, she holds up her arms, seemingly forgetting that her usual gray plate has morphed into a more mundane set of armor.
Looking at the morphing form of Zero, Valessa raises an eyebrow. "Right, magic... good to remember." With a bemused smile, the woman laughs a little at the question.
"Yes, I would say so. Beggars don't travel well. Can you pull off a merchant's look?"
So back to the fine clothing? Well, whatever. "Yeah, of course." she answered Valessa. A few seconds later Zero was wearing a beautiful long and floral dress with several cuts and signs of wear. "See, it looks fancy, but also like I've been travelling a long time."
Satisfied with her choice of apparel she looks to the person that used to be Yaz Erfryr. "Looking good, too, Yaz!" After a brief second she added "Not that you didn't before!"
"Yes, better. Makes more sense that a fine merchant have body guards," she hand gestures to herself and Yaz, "than a beggar, asking for alms. Impressive trick, though. Might be useful to have 'beggar form' during investigation stage."
Valessa smiles as she says this, and as she does so it becomes somewhat apparent that the woman has been so accustomed to having her helm on and masking her facial emotions that she no longer is used to having to mask them.
Tobar just smiles as her form shifts from human male to elven woman to kitsune to Succubus and back to human, albeit this time a gorgeous female.
"Ah, its nice to see children play with their new toy"
Yaz waggles his eyebrows playfully and chuckles "Nah, I'm sure I look more presentable now than before." He is already thinking about how best to capitalize on the moment of confusion the illusion might cause when a fight breaks out.
Lothorian changes into a Half-elf with red hair and green eyes, with a chainshirt of steel.
Daniel now looks like a 6 foot 3 half-elf with blonde hair and green eyes in old fasioned breast plate that is in very good condition.
Shelly:
Shelly adds
"While it might be wiser to use the disguises as you investigate so there is a less of a trace back to us,
conversely you could use them to escape arrest and hid for a time."
Valessa nods, her brow furrowing into a frown. "Hadn't thought of it that way. Still, not exactly inconspicuous without the hat. And... don't really do well out of my form, glamoured or no."
The woman physically shudders at the mere thought of removing her armor for a prolonged period. "You can't have my face, damn you! It is mine, I EARNED IT!" Her face contorts a bit as she pushes those thoughts away.
"One last question." Her voice is a bit hoarser than it was, but no less resolute. "Proof of deed done is obvious if we bring him back alive. If we have to kill him, what token should we bring to satisfy our contract?"
Just wear the hat. You can just look a little different than you do now. Many groups have an armored guard or two, if they have the means, Lefty says to Valessa.
And you raise an excellent question, too.
Lothorian speaks to Shelly. I would assume his severed head is good enough. And,.. how badly do they want him alive? Do they have a preference? Is dead just as good? It's certainly easier.
He realizes that that sounds a bit macabre. I mean, from a practical standpoint.
"I was thinking of perhaps bringing back a different body part."
Tobar says with a smirk and a knowing grin
"But perhaps you're right. A head is more practical"