CH. 10: Hard Choices

[spyguy1503]

Ne-Chanz shrugs. "I'll need two longswords."

[Chris1234]

"Longsword, spear and sling plus bullets, here, please," echoes Shima.

[TristenC]

Can we talk alone in your room?

[JadedDM]

Haahqae and Tulbas (Steel Tankard, common room)
"Out of the way, shrimp," the baaz barks at Haahqae. "This man is under arrest by order of the prefect." They forcefully escort the innkeeper outside and will violently remove anyone who tries to stop them.

Tulbas helps Cassandra to her feet. "He didn't do anything, not that I know of," she insists. "When I tried to find out, one of them struck me. They refused to say anything." She wipes the tears from her eyes. "What will become of this place without him? If they shut this place down, I'll be out of the job."

Kendra Greylock (Prefect's Mansion, Ballroom)
Tethys takes a long moment to consider her request. "Very well. This way." He takes her to the west wing of the first floor. Kendra vaguely recalls this is where the guest rooms are. It seems Tethys is using them as makeshift cells for the trade guild members. Each occupied room is guarded by an armed baaz.

Norris is being held in the very first room. Tethys nods to the guard, who stands aside and unlocks the door before opening it. It's a small room, only 15' x 10'; just large enough for a single bed, a nightstand and a chest.

Norris appears shaken, but unharmed. "K-Kendra!" he says upon seeing her. "Are you alright? Am I being released?"

Gregeddin (Prefect's basement)
Gregeddin is too far to see what they are playing, specifically. Just that it involves cards. Draconians do not wear armor, as their scales provide more than enough protection. Taking another quick peak, he sees they both have long swords on their belts.

If he presses himself against the east wall and is very quiet, he might be able to slip by without them noticing. However, reacquiring his things would prove considerably more difficult.

(OOC: Let's say, a successful DEX check is needed to just sneak by them and reach the door to the north. If you want to also circle around to the big table and try and snatch his things, that's a second DEX check, then a successful Pick Pockets check for each item (backpack, belt pouch, small sack, large sack). Then a third DEX check to sneak back to the door.

I realize you won't be making these rolls yourself, I'm just letting you know what you'll need so you can judge your odds of success and decide which risks to take or not take.)

Grubnick (Haven Arms, Common room)
"Sure lad, this way." Delharn leads Grubnick upstairs, to one of the many rooms. He unlocks his, and steps inside. It's a decent enough room. Grubnick's is nicer, but it has all of the basic amenities.

"That was some fun, but just the beginning. I got a little something that can really make a mess of things!" he says, grinning like a kid on Yuletide Eve who just discovered where his parents were hiding his presents. He takes a scroll from his pack. "A gift from Sirrion himself." It appears to be a scroll of summoning. It looks like a very complex spell.

Arulia Seroth (Three Forks Road, Harbor District)
"Strange coincidence," William notes. "Did someone steal our idea?" He shakes his head. "Alright. Where should we go to find this woman? The old fort?"

Felran, Ne-Chanz and Shima (Grinning Goat Tavern)
"Only one other thing," the woman says. "You are to tell nobody of this assignment, especially the church or the army. The fewer people who know, the better. So, does that mean you accept the job then?"

[Haahque]

"Woah there, I'm not a shirmp, I'm a gnome. Rather much larger and smarter then a shrimp I'd think you'd be able to tell the difference."

"Wait did you say this was the order of the prefect? Oh my, I never new you were a known felon, I wonder what you did to deserve that. But, I guess the law's got to get on its bumbling way." The baaz seem rather non conversational and unhelpful. Damned laws keep on getting in the way of well laid plans, but maybe this place can stay up and running and supply Haahqae with the ale he needs after all.

Making his way over to Cassandra, Haahqae does his best to cheer her up.
"Not at all, Cassandra. We'll make sure this place stays up and running, mark my words. I don't know what the innkeeper did, but he might be back in a couple of days to resume business, we need to keep it running until then so he has a business to come back and resume. Did he have a wife or brother or someone who might be willing to act as steward for the inn while he's away?"

[spyguy1503]

Ne-Chanz cracks his knuckles. "I'm in."

[chese780]

"Greatsword and a longsword, and yes. We are in." Felran says looking at the obviously obvious thief. "When and where?"

[TristenC]

Grubnick stares at the scroll in awe and wonder, By the hand of the fire-giver himself... it's far beyond my ability to understand... he practically whispers. But what does it summon...? A living spirit of flame itself, maybe? We'll have to choose the right moment for such a rare gift so it can have the greatest possible effect... Did... did he instruct you on where or when to use it? Grubnick's mind churns with the new possibilities... first his mentor and friend appears out of nowhere, and now this divine gift was revealed...

[Ooc: would Grubnick know of fire elementals and such? If not ignore the relevant portion.]

[Chris1234]

Shima nods as the others have declared themselves, "And dinner."

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra steps inside the room and looks around with a frown. "I'm fine, and no," she says with a sigh. "I wasn't able to convince them to release you, or anyone else in the trade guild that was arrested," she explains. "All of you tried to negotiate the taxes by sending a letter by messenger. That messenger tried to use some kind of mind control spell on him. Even if it he was acting on his own, he represents the trade guild, so all of you are responsible until proven otherwise."

[mgbevan]

Dissatisfied with the sight of the longswords on their belts, the bard and his little, bloodied, stolen knife doesn't feel his chances improving in any combat. This candle wouldn't do much damage either. Reluctantly, he tries to make himself look as wall-like as possible. "Maybe if they see you they'll think you're a wall painting". "That idea is so stupid I could be part Baaz." He the proceeds to shuffle along the wall heading North, watching the Baaz as he goes. Ironically, he wished for the dim violet candles of the temple for probably the only time in his life.

[BishGada]

Tulbas search for some ice (OOC: Guess there is plenty with the winter here) for Cassandra to put on the bruises. He then looks after the guards glumly. When they are out he tells Haaque, "The prefect! that reminds me we planned to see him. Maybe we can ask him what was it all about when we meet him." Although he really wanted to look at the book Haaque mentioned, he tries to help Cassandra as best as he can.

[djhyland]

It takes Arulia a moment before she understands William's question--the chaos of her father's arrest had driven the matter of the brothel from her mind. But he might be correct: the brothel was in that part of the city, and from what she could tell, the smoke was rising from the correct area. "If someone else has put themselves at risk to burn the brothel, they have my gratitude," she says. "Were you the only one sent to town about it?"

Arulia shakes her head at his other question. "No, I won't go to the fort unless I have to. I'm hoping that I can find her at her home."

(OOC: Arulia intends to go to Greylock's Gorgeous Gems to look for Kendra.)

[JadedDM]

Haahqae and Tulbas (Steel Tankard, common room)
Cassandra shakes her head. "No...he has no family that I know of. I guess...as the head barmaid, that falls on my shoulders. But I don't know anything about running a business," she laments. She thanks Tulbas for the help and sits down on one of the bar stools.

Kendra Greylock (Prefect's Mansion, Ballroom)
"I knew that horse's ass couldn't be trusted!" Norris erupts upon hearing the news. "I warned the others not to trust that man and that shifty gnome and little elf with him! Nothing but trouble, the whole lot of them! Those adventurer types always think they're helping people, but all they do is make things worse! Damnation!" He kicks at the nighstand, letting off some steam.

"But wait, you have to believe we had no idea he was planning on staging a coup! He volunteered to deliver a note for us, that's all. Kendra, you believe me, don't you?"

Gregeddin (Prefect's basement)
Gregeddin presses himself against the wall and slowly sidles his way across it. The baaz continue their card game, unabated. "Do you have any sixes?" asks one.

Just as Gregeddin is about halfway by them, the floor creaks slightly under his foot. Gregeddin freezes and one of the baaz looks up and right at him. He squints a bit in the candlelight for a few moments, then shrugs and turns back to its partner. "Go fish," he says.

Either these creatures have no infravision or the candlelight is interfering with it. Whatever the case, the bard resumes movement and manages to quietly sidle his way up to the door.

(OOC: Gregeddin makes a DEX check [TN 14] (1d20): 13, pass.)

Grubnick (Haven Arms, Common room)
"Well now," says Delharn, a tad embarrassed. "To be perfectly honest, I'm not exactly sure what it will summon. It's a bit beyond me, as well. But it's got to be big and destructive, I figure. If we set it loose in the city, in the right place at the right time, we can really do some damage. Just got to figure out where and when is best. I was hoping you'd have some ideas, since you've been here longer. Sirrion himself, well...he's not one for specific instructions, you know?"

(OOC: I'm okay with him knowing about fire elementals.)

Arulia Seroth (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
William shakes his head. "Not that I am aware of," he admits. "It was just me. If Elistan had sent another, I'd like to think he'd have let me know." The two head for Kendra's place. However, oddly enough, the shop is closed up. This is quite unusual, as it's only around noon. It's too late for the store to not be open yet, but far too early to be closed yet. Knocking on the door, there is no response. It's possible Kendra might be at work, but surely Norris would be home?

Felran, Ne-Chanz and Shima (Grinning Goat Tavern)
"Go to Warehouse C on River Way, near the Trade Guildhall," she says. "All will be explained there. Now if you'll excuse me, I have arrangements to make." With that, she gets up and departs.

[TristenC]

Grubnick nods at his admission, Well, I would think the best place is either at the church or where the Prefect is staying. I've never been inside either place so I don't know the layouts. I wouldn't think a lone summoning, no matter how powerful, could take on either place alone... Suddenly an almost wicked grin crosses his face. Remember how we used to play Khas? The goal is the King, right? Why not use the summon to try to eliminate the Prefect? We could stir up more trouble slowly, similar things to today but using different people. We fins a way to get closer to the prefect, use the summoning and take out their leader. Afterwards it will be easier to sow chaos in the confusion before they find a replacement... He takes out gis pipe and chews the stem a bit the way he often does when contemplating his moves in the game. I'd like to strike at the church, but I fear they'd be much better equipped to detect us and stop us before we can go through with it... We could prepare some fire-trapped supplies too, and set them where they'll be examined by the army. A box full of oil in the right place with a fire-trap could be a delayed way of letting the army start their own fires... we'll have to be careful not to let the locals suffer, though... What do you think about it all?