The City of Adala

The city is fairly quiet, though early morning workers are starting to appear.
The area where Beka, Celeste and Cas await is fairly deserted save for a few distant guards and the occasional servant on an errand.

As Handle leads Faliol and Riccoco towards the waiting trio, they notice that the architecture displays wealth and privilege. The street is light with lumina street lamps. The statue of Kinnut the Reveller (A jovial fat man surrounded by women whose wine jugs fountain into a pool) stands in a large courtyard. The lights of the harbor are visible not far beyond. The buildings that front the court appear to be a mixture of high end businesses and large residences. Some of them are walled compounds.

Beka, Celeste and Cas look at once bored and anxious, an odd combination. Handle, Faliol and Riccoco look like they have run the whole way and arrive slightly out of breath. With a hand gesture from Handle, they slow their walk as they enter the courtyard, so as not to draw unnecessary attention.

There you are. Have you seen Rath, Vagrant or Nuyok? I think this stupid merchant has or has heard of Rath because he is evidently collecting Hill Tribe and rath used to be util he was...you know so I want to go see if he's in there and get him out willing or not. Let's go!
OOC: Plan, we don't need no stinking plan...

"I don't know who to trust other than those of us here right now. Something squishy is going on." Cas eyes each of you like you had killed the Butler with the crowbar in the bathrub.

Riccoco peers around the courtyard and especially to the north beyond the wall. Then he takes a few moments to look towards the docks and wharf beyond. He murmurs, "How far you be thinkin' Ketzer's Vineyards be from this place, Faliol? A short run an' a long walk for sure."

.oO(It be havin' nothin' to do with Sangiyok, Riccoco you ol' fool. Keep to the task at han' an' stop the min' wanderin'!)

Steely eyes shining in the early morning dawn, the old 'coon eyes his companions, "Ol' Riccoco don' be knowin' a bit o' what be happenin' this-a-way. Faliol nor I be seein' much the past few but the backs o' our eyelids! What be happenin'? This Throne pinky don' stole Wrath? We be needin' a sneaky look-see? There be no sense runnin' in swords a flappin'. We barely be livin' from the attack on Ash Manor like that!"

"A quick wit an' faster min' be the way to save our fellows!"

"If you didn't know, Ash's evil cousin works for this guy," Cas says with a very annoyed look.

I look from Beka, to Cas, before settling on Celeste.

"Please tell me I am wrong. We didn't travel all this way, through humid jungle and past greedy gate guards, only to run into Ash's evil cousin? What are the odds? The Gods hate me. It is NOW official!"

Tail thrashing angrily, I mutter to myself, shake my head and look at the women...

"Miss Beka, what do you plan to do and how can we help?"

Whispering, "Before I forget, Mr. Kent and P...Jareek are moving the cart and wagon to another spot. We figured the bad guys know of the shacks and anywhere else has got to be safer..."

"Cas didn't mean he was really Ash's cousin, Ricco. But he seems to be made of the same cloth."

"Why don' Cas be sayin' what she be meanin' then?" The obviously surly 'coon glares about the courtyard. "You be sayin' Throne be o' the Adept cloth, then?"

Ricco goes to sulking a bit, wringing his leathery padded paws as he his eyes continue to rove about the area. "Either way, we be needin' to have a look-see at this Manor. What you be thinkin' about sendin' a couple o' us to the front gate, an' the others go scurryin' over the wall?"

OOC: Pick me! Pick Me!

Cas gives a little glare, "Say what I mean? They are cousins. Both damn mind readers is what they are. Those mind reading adepts are all evil cousins of each other. Now the wall idea... I like that. I snuck into Ash's manor all by myself and found out his evil plans until I had to stab myself with his sword to make it look like I had been killed so he wouldn't figure out what I was up to. I like the wall climb idea!"

Let's go!
OOC: OK, someone else plan this one...

Working with the let's go check it out general consensus:
Following the characters who have been waiting, you quickly come to a wealthy-looking area of town where all of the households seem to be walled estates.
Map of Throne Compound

The green areas are landscaped, but easily passable. There are no obscuring banks of trees, only low garden and (blue) pools and fountains.
The walls are about 8' in height with a raised walkway behind. They are spiked on top. The walls are patrolled by Hill Tribe barbarian guards. They appear to be quite vigilant, far more than you would expect for about 4:00 am. A few of them are patrolling the grounds as well. Handle seems comfortable doing this sort of recon and announces that the guards patrol the walls very efficiently, leaving no good blind spots. He also notices that each carries a signal whistle. The guards are armed with hand axes, and a few of them have extra ones for throwing.
One thing odd that several of you notice is that one of the fountains (SE corner of building) has reddish water. Two groundskeepers are draining it. Celeste darkly informs you that she will never forget the sight of how blood looks in water.

All this is seen from a discreet distance in ones and twos.

A dark look crosses Celeste's face, "I will never forget the sight of how blood looks in water."

In a low whispering voice, I put forth an option, "This is a desperate plan, but it is all I can think of without more time to prepare. What if we wait till the guards by the carriage house are facing a different direction. Then we lob oil over the wall and set that building afire? They will blow their whistles, and everyone should rush forth to put out the fire... Then we sneak over the back wall and gain entrance to the manor."

Noticing the looks this undoubtedly generates, I shrug. "Well, short of shooting the guards full of arrows and storming the place, I am all out of ideas..."

Plan A
"One of us can pretend to be drunk, wander over to a fountain and get sick. The guards will all be distracted and we can slip over the wall. Better then setting the building on fire which is likely to attract every guard in the city."

Plan B
"We could get someone to dress up like an adept and mutter some weird words and just spoke all of the guards away."

Plan C
"We could throw a rock and everyone would look in that direction. While they are doing that we slip over the wall."

Plan D
"We one by one steal their whistles and tounges so they can't call for help."

Plan E
"We can set fire to a rose bush. Less fire, thus less attention."

Plan F
"We kill a guard and leave him in a fountain and make them all wonder what happened."

Plan G
"We claim to all be from some barbarian tribe and that we are just getting back from some mission."

Plan H
"We are fountain salesman and we heard that they need a new fountain."

Plan I
"..."

OOC: "I'll run through the compound saying, 'I'm a hound dog! Wohohohohohoho!' and everyone will be chasing me, stunned trying to figure out what disney movie I'm quoting."

OOC: Cas must have been a Boy Scout, because she is really prepared.

Ricco listens to each idea, his knowing grin widening at each of Cas's ever increasingly ludicrous ideas are offered. "No, Faliol, Cas be right. A fire be a little much for what we be wantin'." Turning his eyes to Handle, Ricco says, "I think we be needin' to be hearin' more about what be happenin'. Ol' Riccoco can' be jus' runnin' into any ol' Merchant House an' attackin' it."

Musing silently and waiting his eyes glitter. "There be a lot o' water in that place. What you think be feedin' all those ponds, lakes, and fountains?"

I'm thinking there should be a way to get into the Throne Manor without having to start anything on fire. I also don't think we could easily create a distraction on the south side of the house and run to the north side and get in. It has to be an instant thing. Otherwise, it only puts all the guards on notice.

How many guards are there in total visible? Am I crazy thinking there must be some sort of sewer system or methodolgy behind all the bodies of water and fountains?

Tallon has a huge network of undeground sewers, pipes, cisterns and such. It needs to have them because the city would suffer major drainage prblems. You are not sure about Adala.
As for underground access, you have no idea, unless you have a particular skill in such things. Water pumps and piped water are common in Merikia, which has animated pumps.

Handle estimates 8-10 guards, plus a few workers.

"Merchant Throne is not an Adept, (is he?) but he is as corrupt as Ash was, though maybe for different reasons..."

...is not an adept, as far as anything you've heard.

Why don't I go and try to sell him my silk? I'll just say Jonnit set up a meeting and I'm sorry I was late.

OOC: That is soooo obviously a set-up, Throne would see through it in an instant!


After listening to the other 'plans' Beka's suggestion seems to be the voice of reason..."That sounds like an excellent plan Beka."

I rub my sleepy eyes.

.oO(I don't care what we do, just let me go back to sleep!)

"Suppose you gain entrance. What happens next? How do you get Rath out of there?"

:yawn:

"Plan J: We distract them by unleashing some chickens in the front gate and while they are catching them we use their beds and sleep!"

Riccoco looks about at his companions, "It be a bit late for a business meetin', ain' it?" Ricco chuckles and quickly raises a paw to his temple. "Celeste be a match for any two o' the Hill Tribers. Mayhap through the front door be our best bet. There can' be more than ten o' the guards."

.oO(Ol' Riccoco be as old as you be gettin' if they think this be a good idea! How long we be havin' to get Rath out? That bloody water be a bad omen. Where be Nuyok an' the Vagrant?)

I don't know, let's go!

I walk to the gate.

At the gate, Beka is met by an axe-wielding guard. He stoically watches her, waiting for her to say something. The guards in the immediate vicinity are tense and alert.

Hello,
I am Merchant Beka and I have a meeting with Merchant Throne. Lt. Jonnit set it up, he was sure Merchant Throne would be very interested in what I have to show him. He said something about "Especially right now, with all that's going on", whatever that means. He was very specific that I needed to come tonight, will you please show me the way?

Before Beka approaches, I answer Riccoco,
"The oines warned us of Throne siad he had an adept working for him. one they thought could read minds, though Nuyok told me they cna't do that at least without touching you and concentrating. I thin Ihave told youeverything else, the city gaurd want information, we want to find out what may have happened to our friend who may have been taken byThrone, and why this jonnit is so keen on Vagrant and getting Beka to mee t the merchant. I'm gonna scout around the estate seea bout wher that water may get in form or other ways of slipping in. I'll trya nd kepe an ear open and come runnin' if I hear a scuffle, to lend what aid I can."

I am not going with Beka or any paying the visit. I remainout of sight of the guard and the main gate. Moving around the estate I look for other means of entering, keeping to shadows, stealthily movingand keepoing my senses awake to find al I can.

Depending on the ease of entering somewhere else, or important informaton I may come across, I'll go to tell the others, or if I find a palce to I'll just slip in and await in hiding til lI am needed or see soem other thing I cn take advantage of.

Riccoco looks thoroughly confused. "Who be tellin' who what? How the city guard be involved? The 'coon watches helplessly as Beka takes his earlier advice and moves up towards the Gate to be confronted by a meaty Hillman. Handle slips away in the other direction.

Ricco lets out a throaty growl. "We be needin' to split up, it be seemin'. Celeste, Miss Beka be your boss. You best be movin' with her. Cas, you go too, protect her as your kin."

.oO(Best iffin' we be knowin' where Cas is this time...)

The plucky 'coon adds a few choice curses as he looks toeards the shadows Handle slipped in to. Turning back to Faliol, he snarls softly, "We best be gettin' ready to fight our way into that Gate, Faliol." He quirks a single brow at the fox-kit. "You got Betsy ready?"

[EDITED on Mon September 29, 2003 @11:16 AM (CDT)]

Cas is the protector of all!

OOC: I need a theme song.

OOC: I suggest the Late, Great Jimi Hendrix's FOXY LADY

Handle has disappeared into the shadows too quickly for Riccoco to see which way he has gone. There is no trail to follow.

I believe Handle's player will be unable to post for a bit and this was his way of staying silent within the confines of the story.

<< = Rewind.
I'm going to make an edit to my post, then.

Everyone have a look at the edited post and that will be cannon.

My apologies. I hadn't realized Handle's player was going MIA.

I nod at Ricco and begin to string Betsy...

After watching the encounter at the gate, I mutter "I used to turn my nose up at shop keepers...stuck behind their counter, selling their wares day after day. I couldn't imagine living such a boring life. While their lives may seem full of mindless routine, they don't have to invade a manor guarded by homicidial barbarians, get chased by giant beast-eating plants, or kill crazy adepts. There is such a thing as too much excitement. Maybe those shop keepers are smarter than I thought..."

When that one guard begins to pull a weapon on Ms. Beka, I raise my Betsy... But his superior wisely stops him and I relax a little.

With nothing else to do but wait, I aim at the mean guard...

OOC: Oines? did I miss something?

The guard looks a you like you were something he would scrape fromhis boot.
"Get lost, city fluff. Mister Throne isn't home. And he's not going to be home any time soon." He hefts his ax meaningfully, like you should be impressed by his manly ax hefting skills.

Hello! Is anyone in there? I said I have a meeting with Merchant Throne. It was scheduled for right now and I wouldn't want to be the person who made either one of us wait! I know he's home because Lt. Jonnit just said he was! Are you going to tell him you were the one that wouldn't let me in to make this special delivery?

Beka yells past the gate as Celeste walks up to her. The guard looks annoyed now. As Beka's voice raises, he begins to raise his ax, as if to throw.
"Cho! Hold your hand!" calls another guard. The second guard comes running up. "Remember your orders."
"I chafe under these rules. A warrior fights!"
"Fighting will come. Until then, hold. You! Women! The one you seek is not here. I know not what you have been told, nor do I care. Leave now!"

The other guards are still alert, but their eyes stray occasionally to this confrontation.

"Fighting will come soon enough?!?" Cas looks a bit pleased at that statement. "I must say I haven't helped with a good fight in nearly two or three months now. How would I get myself involved in a fight of that sort? Is there a planned time and meeting place for this fight or are their just going to be legions of monsters springing from the ground? Do I have to use an axe?"

"As good old Faliol used to say," Cas begins without giving a chance for a response. "Why start a fight when you join up with a side that is preparing for one already!"

The first guard turns to the second and says, "surely there is no 'law' in this place that forbids killing vermin?" He looks more than a little murderous.
The second barbarian remains stoic. "Go to the house and send out Gern. I need cooler heads."
"Who the hell are you? Kor is dead. You are not in charge."
The second guard's eyes narrow. "Would you like to test that? Go to the house."
Their eyes lock, finally the first one drops his gaze. "Very well, we will not fight before the stone folk." He leaves for the house.
The victor turns again to the gate. "If it is your intention to stand here and throw taunts, I will not stop you. Any fool can be a fool. But if you and the rest of your band skulking about in the shadows think they can sneak in here for some reason, they will die without mercy. I doubt you will take advice, but I would suggest you forget whatever business you had. It will bring you only grief."

"I'm not itching to fight you or him or...jeez, nevermind. I do hope we leave this city soon so I can get some much needed hunting in."

Riccoco squints into the early morning night. He nudges Faliol. "Did that Hooman be sayin' somethin' about us?" The 'coon starts eyeing the guards along the walls more closely, a bit of intepredation worming into his gut.

.oO(This ain' bein' walkin' trees, spine dogs, or Twisted... This be bein' reall warrior folk fromt he Hill Tribes. Simmer down, Ol' Riccoco, Celeste an' the Foxes be a good han' in a fight. Rath be too good a friend to lose.)

Whispering "Those barbarian pinks must have really good nightvision. I can barely see them from here... Maybe he was talking about Handle? Anyway, the ladies are returning."

I stop aiming at the barbarian officer as the ladies get further away from the manor.

Who are you, I want Throne to get the right head on a plate.

I get his name (hopefully) and leave back to where we were meeting the two city guards to tell them something big is up but I have no idea what or when, sorry couldn't get in.

"Very well, if it will get you to go. I am Hahr, son of Gaz, son of Stahv. My tribe is the Djothar of the Carrilon Uplands." He gives you the leaving look.

Are you going to gather the others before returning to the rendezvous?

...will depart with.

they will see us and follow.

Ricco nods and frowns, still watching the group at the Gate. "Where they be headed, now? We best be followin' 'em. See what kind o' trouble they be bringin' down with out us?" He shakes his head a little and shrugs to the Fox-Kit.

Assuming they move away, following Miss Beka: Riccoco glances back towards Throne's Manor and mutters. "Ol' Riccoco be guessin' Handle be on his own, then."

As Ricco heads out, I whisper, "Keep them in sight and I will keep you in sight and try to catch any that follow you."

OOC +1 level in stealth

I let Ricco move out first and hang back to see if any sneaky barbarian pinks try to follow my caravan-mates.

Celeste follows Beka to the gate.

Keith,

Use handle skuklking about in whatever way is useful to propell the story. I can sneak in and ifnd out info and bring it back to them, or cause a commotoin on the other side so they can sneak in, whatever works.

Just let me know if you need me to come back in to RP for a time and I'll attempt to hit the board at least once a day.

Tillthen I am being very cautious and looking for faults in their defenses. If posible to sneak in and find out anything about Rath or anything else useful, I'll try it.

If I can get into their kitchens to spike their food I'll do that so maybe the guard will end up falling asleep and make an opening for the others or myself.

The defenses of the mansions and its grounds seem admirable. The party stealthily retreats, some as guides to a rendezvous and others as rear scouts to deter any followers. As far as you can tell however, you are not followed. Handle however remains unaccounted for. Since he knows the rendezvous spot, he is left to continue his recon.

Beka leads the group to the bruned ruins of a small bakery, where she says they will be contacted by two city guards. It is several blocks away from Throne's compound. Several hours passand some of the party gets a bit of shuteye. Now guards appear until dawn begins to color the air.

At that point a city guard approaches the building. our scouts see him coming, but those who have met him before identify him as Melkut, the friendlier of the two. He is allowed to pass in and greets you.

"Well met, Tallonites. Jornu is on duty, and I must be accountable soon. I will spare what time I can, but we two are being watched. As far as I can tell, Lt. Jonnit never came back on watch last night." He looks around, taking mental inventory. "There are more of you than before, but none seem to match the descriptions of your missing comrades. Did you not get in? Or was there nothing to find?"

Cas explains in the way that fox does. She raises her hand indicating "I've got it" and proceeds to weave the story. "Well you see, we went back and double checked to see if our friends had returned and seeing that they had not we went to the arranged encounter only to learn that they would not show. So we decided we would check out the premise and discovered it well manned. We created several plan ideas and pick and choose the best and through of a way to go in but it didn't work because they SOMEHOW knew that we were here. You see we have a companion who can disappear from sight in shadows so clearly they must have magic of some kind."

"Well we didn't get in and they refused to let Beka and I pass and even threatened to kill me. Well, they did mention something about impending battles and the fountain had blood in it but we could not get past the gate. I also hope your friend is alright. Perhaps he went hunting or decided it best to leave the city."

Melkut looks at Cas blankly and says, "huh?"
He shakes his head to clear it. "I got about half of that. What about impending battles and fountains of blood? And I don't have a friend in trouble, you do."
He pauses again. "And I don't believe in magic."

We saw a fountain that had blood in the water and heard that on of the hill tribe had been killed. We don't know how. then, Hahr, son of Gaz, son of Stahv of the Djothar of the Carrilon Uplands tribe, who was kind of taking charge of things told another guard that he couldn't kill us yet. He said, "Fighting will come. Until then, hold." and backed it up with a nifty little axe hefting maneuver. Unfortunately, we are still missing three of our party and although I am not sure they are in there, I have my suspicions.

Cas nods, "That covers what I didn't. Which reminds me that I must talk with Nuyok as soon as possible."

I try to follow Cas' crazy ramblings. I have known her for what seems an eternity and I still don't understand what she says 50 percent of the time. The poor guard hasn't got a chance at comprehension.

I watch and listen, then put my head in my paws...

.oO(Is it any wonder we Vulpines have such bad reputations?)

blink...stare...blink
YAWN!
"I'm really tired! I'm going back to the cabin and hope they show up. I'll start looking for them again as soon as my brain functions."

OOC: You think we can all rationalize buying LS: Doesn't Sleep?

Melkut must leave but promises to check in at the old bakery on a regular basis.
Tired and defeated, the party returns to the shacks. As they reach the gate, dawn has colored the sky and the great doors stand open. Hobart, that fat little bribe taker is not on duty, so you pass unmolested.
Exhaused, you reach the shacks and those of you who have had little sleep pass out almost immediately.

Kent, the wagons and Jareek are nowhere to be seen, of course. Faliol and and Riccoco explain that they were told to go to the far end of the road past Ketzer's Vineyards to look for a place where they might be picked up by a ship. Not knowing how much work this might be (especially in the dead of night) it is little wonder that they have not returned.) Still, there's no reason they should have gotten into any trouble.
The sun is fully up at this point.

Riccoco and Faliol, your appointment is not until tonight.

What am I going to need?

I was thinking I need to find a ship or ferry to take me to the north side of Tallon where we can sneak into the Nightfolk tunnels as opposed to going straight onto the Harbor.

Does that sound right? Or, will I need another method of egress or do I need something else entirely?

Yes, Cargo ships are inspected, as are trade goods coming in through either gate. Your plan sounds good.

Of course, the sea voyage is theoretical at this point. It s a getaway contingency.

I seem to recall Ferrying out of Tallon to reach another point before embarking along the Lizard Road. Would it be possible to take a ship or Ferry from that location to the area of Tallon I need to get to in order to bypass the BrewGuilds embargo (and ban)?

It might require a bribe, but yes. The otter (whose name escapes me at the moment) seemed to be a wheeler dealer sort.

Celeste, who has been very quiet during the goings on, lies down and is asleep within minutes. She dreams fitfully of water, blood and barbarian hordes.

Did they take the rest of my silk? I still have to sell it and get a return cargo to sleep in...zzzzz