[IC] Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia listened to what Pylia said, and she nodded in agreement. She then added, "I'll try and grab what's in the barrel then. I think this calls for stealth and speed if we're not to attract any attention and to make a quick getaway. I'll leave the dog distracting to you," She then looked to Dinah in her arms, knowing that the dog was after Dinah earlier, and she decided "I'll call you back here later, Dinah," before snapping her fingers and sending Dinah back to the familiar plane for now. She didn't want that dog to go after Dinah again. She then said to her friends, "Let's get to their hideout," She then led the way, trying to not be conspicuous.

[Lucius Cypher]

The group including Shortfang followed you. Shortfang himself got out from his trance and gave orders to Syfr to alert him if anything hanged with the target he was watching. Dinah was teleported back to the safety of the familiar realm, allowing you to move towards the alley unabated. The dog was still there, sniffing the barrel you had spotted before. As Pylia took out the piece of meat and got ready to distract the dog with it, Buddy plucked it out of her fingers. “Huh? Buddy what are you doing?”

The robot walked towards the dog with the meat in hand. In turn the dog turned towards Buddy and growled. However after kneeling towards the dog and offering him some of the meat, the dog sniffed it curiously. Buddy proceeded to lead it out of the alley and away from the barrel so the group could check on it in peace. You could see the robot gently patting the dog as he ate, and apparently using his magic to kill the various bugs and ticks the dog has accumulated.

“Well... I guess that’s an option too. Let’s hurry.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

While Pylia pulled out the meat to distract the dog, Sylvia herself got into the Satyr Stance so that if she needed to, she could bolt out of there. She was surprised to see Buddy take the meat and walk up to the dog. She watched as he led the dog away from the barrel, and fed the dog the meat. He was using magic to kill the various bugs and ticks that were in the dog's fur. She smiled at the sight and she nodded approvingly at how Buddy handles the distraction. She answered Pylia quietly, "Right. I'm going in,"

Her plan was to quietly and quickly move to the barrel, get the items out, and get back out of sight so that they can inspect the contents. So, she darted to the barrel, lifted the barrel lid up, grabbed what was in there, closed the barrel as quietly as possible, and hurried back to Pylia's and Shortfang's side.

Rolls and Info

Just in case I need to roll this:

Stealth -- 24

[Lucius Cypher]

Going to the barrel and picking through it’s content, it seemed like this barrel was essentially a fantasy trashcan. There were a lot of gross things in here that you’d rather not touch but you pick through it anyways. Underneath the pile of charred black cookies sitting in its own sludge you find a sealed up wrapped cylinder. You weren’t sure what was in it, but you’d grab this and go. It was warm and sticky.

Once you returned Pylia points her head towards the Throaty Mermaid. “Let’s go see what’s in here somewhere else. Don’t want to loiter here too long and get spotted.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

When Sylvia realized that she was basically rummaging through the trashcan, she shuddered a bit. She did not like the feeling of rummaging through garbage. But she did what needed to be done. She found the cookies and beneath them and their own sludge was a sealed cylinder. This was definitely suspicious, so after she grabbed it, she hurried back to Pylia with it in hand. She nodded to Pylia in agreement and she answered her, "Yeah, I agree. Maybe we should look at this in a different area than the docks and the Throaty Mermaid,"

She then looked to Buddy and if he was looking towards her, she would wave to him as though to say "We've got what we were looking for, let's get out of here!" Before leading the way, away from the gang's hideout.

[Lucius Cypher]

Buddy pat the dog on the head before following you and the others out from the docks. There wasn’t anywhere truly safe to be, but Shortfang at least finds a small side garden that doesn’t seem to have anyone present. It was mostly just grass with a few mounds of dirt, no plants in them yet. But there was a stone table and bench for the party to sit at, and that was as good a place to be around as any. Revealing the contents of the wrapped package you’ll find eighty platinum coins carefully rolled up together, with a single note covering them. The note had a list of names, likely shops.

“Looks like we found the money and the hit list.” Pylia said grimly. Shortfang looked at the list and pointed at one of the names. “Hey, this friends shop! Andras and family!” Shortfang pointed at a name called “Thurson Family Produce”. Thurson was Andras’s Stepbrother, as you may recall.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia looked around, making sure that the coast is clear, before taking a look at the contents. Her eyebrows were raised to her hairline at the sight of the eighty platinum coins, and she commented "He wasn't kidding when he said that this noble was paying the gang handsomely! Holy crow," She then took a look at the list of shops. She nodded in agreement with Pylia and she commented "This definitely counts as damning evidence," She then cupped her chin with her fingers, "The list will be especially damning if we can find some other document with the same person's writing on it..."

She then blinked as Shortfang pointed out the name of their friends' name being on the hit list. She answered him, "You're right...!" She then commented "I think we should warn everyone who is on the list here. Just in case the gang has another way to get this hit list. ...Wouldn't hurt to warn Ferric either," She then took out Yorik's book and wrote down the names on the hit list, and wrote some other notes pertaining to this investigation on a blank page.

She then put the note and the coins back in the cylinder, and she told her friends, "I think we should hold onto this as evidence and get it to Shor, or anyone else on his team. Maybe Shor can compare the writing on the note with the other nobles' writing since he does a lot of politics,"

[Lucius Cypher]

Aside from Thurson Family Produce there was Magali Magic Staves and The Dead Monkey pub. There was no other discernible message on the note as you pocket the evidence. “Hmm... But if the gang is suppose to get this information and the money, if it’s not at the dead drop would they still do the jobs? They’re definitely going to be angry that we stole their money. Not that I care, but it’ll be harder to catch them red handed if they don’t have their next orders.” Shortfang scratched his chin and tried to look back towards the main streets, though the sun made t hard for him to do that. “Maybe we find Shor friends? Yorik say Kor and Cera here, right?”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia pockets the money and hit list into the handy haversack and she answered Pylia, "I'm not sure. But if the lack of payment discourages them from continuing their vandalizing job, or taking any jobs from Erendal, then that's a good result. True, it will be harder to catch them red-handed, but I think the fact if we catch them continuing despite the lack of payment will speak volumes,"

She then pointed out, "Besides, if we tried to return the pay and note now, they would know that something's up since we already broke the seal on the cylinder. As of now, they might assume the noble's son is holding out on them. We'll also need the note itself if we want to compare writings and have the evidence to prove noble's son's guilt as well,"

When Shortfang mentioned Kor and Cera, she nodded and answered him thoughtfully, rubbing her chin still, "I do like that idea, but I think with important evidence like this, we might want to check and see if Shor is done with the politics first. We can speak with Cera and Kor if he's still not done,"

[Lucius Cypher]

“Then we should head back to Ferric’s shop. He’ll know where Shor is if he’s done politicking, or at the very least we can pass a message along to him. There’s also those merchants who were attacked by the Mimic we could still check on, and of course we could head over to Thurson’s shop and warn the family in case something happens to them first.” Pylia offers. Shortfang and Buddy don’t have much else to include. “Shortfang thinks this good idea. Shortfang wanna warm Andras Family first though. Let em be ready.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia nodded in agreement, and she answered her friends, "Sounds good to me. Ferric's shop first, then Thurson's shop, and then we can check on the family that was attacked by the mimic. Let's get going," She then led the way to Ferric's shop. As she walks on and leads the way back to Ferric's, she would keep an eye on the crowds and on their surroundings. It never hurts to be careful. After all, now that she thought about it, if they were able to spy on the gang without giving them a single clue, who's to say that someone isn't doing teh same to them?

[Lucius Cypher]

The group moves on, with you keeping a look over your shoulders for anyone following your trail. So far no one seems to be after you but then again, maybe they’re just doing a good job hiding it? Either way you arrive to Ferric’s shop. There are a few customers here, a human and a dwarf who seems to be perusing the weapons and armor. Ferric was behind his counter just watching them when he hears your party enter. “Hello, welcome to my House of Curio- Ah, Sylvia, nice to see you all again. What can I help you with?”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia greeted cheerfully after she entered the shop, "Hi Ferric!" She spotted the human and the dwarf looking at the wares here, and she answered his question, "We're just here to peruse for now," She wanted to wait until the dwarf and the human were out of the store before she actually started the discussion. As she started to look at the wares again, she subtly tried to get a look at the two other shoppers here. She remembered what Kathie said. One of the gang members was a dwarf, and four of them were humans. She was trying to see if the two looked like they could be part of the gang or if they were just normal customers...

Rolls and Info

Insight check on the two other shoppers?

14 for Insight

[Lucius Cypher]

“Of course. Take all the time you need.” Ferric went back to minding the shop as your team gave you a curious look. They didn’t exactly have any more money than they came in here with unless you intended to spend those platinum coins, but you still had them in your possession. The group mostly just split up to look at different things while you walked about.

The human and dwarf seem to be fairly well-to-do people. The human was young and clean shaven, while the dwarf... Was bearded but doesn’t seem too old either. Compared to Shor and Ferric, this dwarf’s beard was fairly small. They seemed to just be talking about weapons and what they would prefer, the young man wanting a rapier while the dwarf preferred a polearm, before eventually the young man picks up the rapier to bring over to Ferric. He pays Ferric the coin for the rapier and leaves with the dwarf.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

When she saw her friends give her a curious look, she tried to discreetly nod towards the two customers, as though to tell them that it would be better if they weren't here to hear what they had to say. Thankfully, it wasn't long before the human man paid for a rapier and left the store. When the two customers left, she felt like she could breathe again. Before heading over to Ferric's counter. She then started, "OK. Now that they're gone, now we can start talking about why we're here," She then asked Ferric, "Ferric, I don't suppose you know if Shor has finished his business at the castle?"

[Lucius Cypher]

“Oh yes, stopped by about what, half an hour ago? He seemed tired, no surprised there, but did tell me to tell him if you come by the shop. He’s on patrol right now nearby, says that you two have some sort of deal? Not sure what’s that all about but if you need to I got a private space just in the back for you two to talk it out.” Ferric says with a bit of a wink. Seems like he’s not entirely unfamiliar with clandestine deals with law enforcement. “If you want I can head out and go find him, if you don’t mind watching my shop while I’m out.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia beamed as she answered "Excellent! Yes, we do have a deal with him, and there is something we want to inform him," She then answered his offers, "We'd appreciate that! Both the room and the offer of getting Shor for us. Thank you Ferric. We'd be happy to hold down the fort here while you're out finding Shor,"

[Lucius Cypher]

"Alright then. Mica! I'm heading out! Sylvia and her friends will be here watching the shop!" Ferric called out to his son, who turned from his work station to Ferric. "Okay!" Then he went back to work examining some minerals. Putting on a hat and jacket Ferric would head out to find Shor, leaving you and the others to watch over the shop. Buddy decided to go stand next to the other sets of armor as if disguising himself as a suit while Shortfang more or less just hung out with Mica. Pylia walked up to you with a wry smile. "Ferric sure does trust you a lot, doesn't he? I'll be honest... I never thought I'd see a dwarf who'd willingly leave his shop unattended. Way I've heard it, dwarves are one of the most greediest people around. They'll shave down copper coins if it means saving themselves money. I guess saving Ferric's life must've put you in his good graces huh?"

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia turned her attention to Pylia, and she listened as she spoke. Sylvia shrugged as she answered Pylia, "As my grandparents have once said: People can be surprising," She then commented, "We did journey from near Cassari to here together, so I think it's safe to say that there's a friendship between us and Ferric. Besides, you were the one who actually saved his life, Pylia. I just helped beat up some monsters that we encountered along the way,"

[Lucius Cypher]

Pylia turned away bashfully. "Well, I wouldn't really say that. Saving his life was... You know, something you just are suppose to do, if given the opportunity. Besides that, couldn't have managed to save him if I had to fight all of those goblins myself." Pylia seemed to be trying to deflect your praise. Before you could say much else you hear some barking outside as someone comes through the door. In a flash a large dog leap through the door and ran right into you as you could feel him violently lick your face. "What has gotten into you boy!? Settle down Jackson!" You'd see a familiar dog and a familiar person trying to get said dog off of you. It was that adventurer who had helped you out back at the encampment, though he seemed too focused on getting Jackson off of you while Pylia just seemed surprised and uncertain of what to do.