Shu

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

The stairs up to the third floor led Leon up to a small hallway, perhaps one third the length of the second floor hall. It was far less elaborate; no red carpet, no crystal chandelier, no kind of ornamental display. The same golden wall fixtures held lamps like below however they were nearly burned out making the small corridor look dull and forgotten with little light to see by. There were two doors, one straight ahead and one on the right.

The door on the right was made of polished pine and was of a sleek, fine look. A keyhole made it clear that the door was locked. The other door however was the one of real interest. It was metal like a dungeon door and had a massive padlock to keep it shut. A feint hum could be heard as a thin, flickering, red “veil” of magical energy covered the door - a ward.

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

“You make such a pretty servant girl, Leon.” Iliskra smirked, unable to hold back on making a jape. Iliskra considered a disguise but chose not to, instead slipping up beside the door and pressing herself near the frame as Leon opened the way into the hall. The second floor hallway was long and quite spacious. As well as decorative. A blood red carpet reached the full length of the corridor, paintings of various sizes and depictions lined the walls, and gold encrusted fixtures held burning oil lamps which illuminated the upstairs area brilliantly. A glimmering crystal chandelier hung high over the center of the hall. There were two staircases on either side of the chandelier which Leon and Iliskra could clearly see. The one on the left went up and the one on the right went down. Iliskra counted six rooms in the hall, including the one she and Leon were in. Both directions of the hallway had a room at the very end with a room on each side.

A single figure could be seen in the hall, the same armored guard that Leon’s bat had spotted. A man of average height and build adorned in full plate armor - helmet included - with his weapon resting upon his right shoulder as he rather lazily plodded along. As luck would have it he was walking the opposite direction from Leon and Iliskra.

“I would put coin on Jadarl’s room being up on the third floor. If you are swift you can be up there before the guard comes back this way,” Iliskra said quietly to Leon, “I can check this floor and try and meet up with Firoz and Willory and-…”
The half-elf hesitated suddenly having realized something, her voice nearly bursting from her mouth before she caught herself. “Say, where did Elthel get off to?” It had dawned on Iliskra that Elthel had not even accompanied herself, Leon, Firoz, and Willory when they approached the house from the courtyard area - which Iliskra quickly pointed out to Leon as the guardsman passed by the respective staircases. Surely Elthel had not taken off or betrayed them. Had she seen something in the snowstorm outside? Or had she shared unheard words with Firoz and Willory when Iliskra and Leon were not paying attention? Iliskra felt the hair on her neck and forearms prickling as the possibilities raced through her mind. How could she have so carelessly lost track of Elthel? How could she and Leon have both done so?

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

Iliskra took the lead this time, sliding the now open window up carefully, ignoring the snowflakes and icy crystals that rained down across her face and arms. Iliskra checked for any defenses around the window before going inside - a steel claw trap on the floor or a guillotine blade rigged up to fall and decapitate careless interlopers. Whatever there might be. Seeing there was no danger Iliskra crawled inside the mansion, her snow-covered boots lightly plopping down onto a carpeted floor. She waited for Leon to follow her in and then quickly shut the window behind them and pulled the curtains together. The two were in a small bedroom. It had a single bed, a chest of drawers an armoire, and a nightstand on which a lone stubby candle provided a dim light. Iliskra noted the humble dresses and shoes in the armoire and guessed they were in the servants’ bedroom. She doubted this Jadarl or any woman of note associated with him would settle for such an unimpressive abode. The room was welcomely warm and cozy compared to the unforgiving cold outside. Iliskra felt a sudden temptation to lay back on the bed and pull the covers up around her neck. If only. the half-elf thought.

“I take it we should find this Jadarl’s bedroom.” Iliskra stated the obvious in a low voice. “Perhaps you could summon a little mouse to give us an eye of the insides of this fine place?” Though she was somewhat jesting Iliskra hoped her companion had more up his sleeve. If the outside look told her anything it was that this was a large mansion, and while Iliskra welcomed the thrills and finds within that usually came with breaking into such a place she would very much rather not be skewered on the end of a guardsmen’s pike or squashed under a golems’ foot while blindly wandering from door to door.

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

Iliskra was already up and moving, Willory and Firoz right on her heels - Leon somewhat humorously being left at the rear and having to tow in behind the others. The four waited until the outside guards had made their close pass and then scurried across the snow covered grounds toward the eastern side of the mansion - careful to avoid the burning oil lamps that illuminated the areas around them. The storm would quickly cover their tracks so there was no concern there. Neither of the crossbow-wielding guards were on the eastern side of the balcony so there was no chance that the four had been seen from above. So far luck was with them. They all pressed themselves against the frost-glazed wall, taking a quick deep breath despite the pain it caused in their chests given the cold air.

Iliskra raised her head and looked over the side of the structure. The luck would hold with there being enough ornamentation to give she and the others hand and foot holds to grasp as they ascended up to the second floor. The windows were all encased in a “frame” of swirling protruding stonework and just above them were miniature carvings of mephits of all things, winged little fiends sitting perched on small platforms. Above those was the edge of the second floor balcony and the ornamental fencing that banded all the way around it. So long as no one accidentally kicked one of the windows or let their hand slip causing a fall climbing up would be easy enough.

“Firoz and I will go around to the other side.” Willory said. When Iliskra looked at him the halfling said, “It’s not a good idea to have four people scrounging up the same side of a wall.”

“He is right.” Firoz added.

Iliskra thought about it for a moment and nodded in understanding. “Just be mindful.”

“Of course,” Firoz said, reaching into his bag and pulling something out, “take this.”

Firoz handed a smooth piece of polished flat metal to Leon. It had a slight upward hook at the end of it. It was about a forearms’ length and felt very heavy despite how thin it was. “It is good for opening closed windows,” Firoz explained, “just slide the hook under the eave of the window and gently force it up. If the windows locked, of course, then it will not work. I have a spare, so worry not.”

With that Firoz and Willory whisked away and disappeared behind the house. Iliskra looked at Leon with a raised brow and said, “After you, good sir.”

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

Iliskra’s response was immediate, “Well then, I say you send your bat friend to look the place over. We can decide on how to get inside after. Fingers crossed of course that your winged lackey can prove a better spy than Willory here.”

The halfling seemed insulted by this but agreed with Iliskra as did Firoz. The four made sure that no guards or anyone else was near and then Leon began his incantation to summon forth the bat. The spell was quick and in just a few moments after there fluttered a shadowy black bat before them. Leon directed the creature to the house while Iliskra, Firoz, and Willory kept an eye out for anyone that might encroach upon their hiding spot as the winged agent soared in toward the mansion.

Iliskra watched as the bat flew in to the nearest window, clinging upside down to the upper seal and pressing its tiny form against the glass. It lingered for several moments before fluttering free and moving on to the next window, and then the next, and so on. As the bat rounded the house Iliskra refocused on the guards. They seemed to maintain their pattern and there had been no change of shifts - yet. Iliskra guessed there were at least four or five more guards on the inside of the mansion. A handful of servants as well without a doubt. It was possible for the four of them to be in and out of the mansion without tipping off anyone, but it would be a challenge to say the least. Iliskra also thought of the possibility of there being more magical obstacles inside, nevermind whatever this large thing was that Willory had glimpsed. One problem at a time. Iliskra thought sighing softly.

Before too long the bat returned, flapping its’ way back against the biting wind and the snowflakes straight to Leon. The bat relayed quite a bit of helpful information to its master. The first being that the large “thing” that occupied the mansion was an iron golem, Iliskra wincing as Leon shared the information. The bat however had noticed that the golem seemed to patrol in an unchanging routine; going clockwise throughout the first floor, looking over each room before moving on continuing its endless cycle. The bat had seen only two servants on the first floor, a maid and a cook. The second floor was tended by a single servant as well with one heavily armored and armed guard patrolling the hallways. Iliskra presumed that there were other guards but they were sleeping somewhere inside the house. The bat had also flown up to the third floor windows but could see nothing as the windows were too high up.

“If we were too pick just the right moment to go inside we could just walk in through the front door,” Willory suggested after Leon had finished “convening” with the bat, “so long as we mind the guards outside and the servants inside.”

“I say we climb up to the second floor and go in through a window.” Firoz said with a cross of his arms.

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

---

It did not take long for Iliskra, Leon, and Elthel to reach their destination. The estate of this Jadarl lay along the southern wall, just west of the main gate. The lingering snowstorm and the fact that the posh abode was somewhat out of the way made reaching it no challenge. It was surrounded by a small, circular grove of trees and an ornamental red picket fence. A single cobblestone path led off from the main road and stopped at the front steps of the larger structure. The estate mansion building itself was three stories tall with a second story balcony and a rooftop balcony. A small courtyard graced the back of the mansion and a humble brown barn sat along the western edge of the grounds. Brightly lit lampposts surrounded the mansion and lined the courtyard, Iliskra could see the moving shapes of guards as she and her two shadowy companions drew near. Elthel had led them around to the east side of the grounds and over the fence where they slinked along among a patch of ornamental bushes which withered and leafless due to the unforgiving winter. It was not long before the three found Firoz and Willory, the Turmish bowman and the halfling ducked low behind a statue of a loosely clothed maiden sprawled against a stone tree.

“I see our new acquaintances agreed to help us once more.” Firoz said shakily under his hood as the three approached.

“Yes,” Elthel replied as she, Iliskra, and Leon moved in close behind the two thieves, “their dwarven friend remained behind while they will be aiding us in our little raid.”

Firoz nodded, “There are two guards that patrol around the mansion and courtyard. There are two crossbowmen up on the second floor balcony.” The Turmish thief got right to business.

“Is that all?” Elthel asked with audible surprise.

“Not quite,” Firoz said flatly, “there is… something inside that acts as a first floor guard…”

“‘Something’?” Elthel asked with a shiver.

“I only caught a glimpse of it,” Willory spoke up, looking over his shoulder, “but it’s big. Lumbering past the windows and talking in a deep rumble of a voice.”

“That does not sound good.” Elthel remarked.

“Not at all.” Firoz said.

“Have you seen anyone coming or going?” Elthel asked.

“Only a servant that left just before the storm really got bad, I assume on an errand.” Willory said. “There is a groundskeeper but he seems to stay around the barn.”

“How would you suggest we go about getting inside?” Elthel asked.

“A window is the best route,” Willory raised his voice slightly as the wind began to howl around them, “the back door and wine cellar door have a magical barrier on them. And the front door is too dangerous to try unless anyone has an an invisibility potion and a nerve of steel to go with it.”

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

Ibdur grunted in response.

Iliskra and Leon hastily equipped themselves and gathered their things, following Elthel back into Iliskra’s room. The three slipped through the bedroom window out into the cold, Elthel pulling the window shut behind them. Iliskra stiffened as her first draw of outside air was sharp and piercing in her chest. It was snowing, quite heavily so, and a notable wind was whistling through the city. Ibdur would not be pleased. Iliskra thought as she pulled her hood up taut around her head. Like Leon she was worried when it came to Ibdur and his continued loyalty to them. More than worried. She had in fact grown fond of the dwarf and had no desire to see him part their company, or worse she and Leon be forced to kill him. But… if it comes to that-…

Iliskra’s thoughts were interrupted by Elthel who told them that the estate was not far. “It lies on the right side of the south road near the gate. We can stay on the streets so long as we not draw any attention to ourselves. The snow will make for good cover.” Elthel hopped the short distance down to the ground followed by Iliskra and then Leon. The snow on the ground was soft and powdery, Iliskra noticed, so if they needed to run for it at least they would not need to worry about slipping and falling. The accompanying wind in the small storm blew in out of the east meaning it would be against their left side all the way to the estate. The streets were less occupied than the day before but not totally deserted. Like Elthel said, so long as the three remained inconspicuous they could freely move through the open.

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

“Firoz and Willory are casing the estate as we speak,” Elthel replied, “if anyone can find a way inside that place it is Willory. As for this Jadarl himself… well, I am most interested in what we will find inside his abode. If we have an opportunity to kill him then we shall take it. That said I would not mind questioning him if we could. But I’m not counting on that.”

Elthel gave Leon a sideways smile, “As for your payment, you will get a fair share of any treasures we might find inside Jadarl’s estate. And I have more precious gemstones that I think you would all like.”

“I assume we are going to break in tonight?” Iliskra asked.

“Yes,” Elthel said, “but if it is all the same I very much want you two to come with me now and have a look at estate.”

“I take it you are staying here then?” Iliskra asked Ibdur, indicative that she planned to oblige Elthel.

Ibdur groaned quite loudly as he planted his backside on his bed, “Of course I am. I… will re-rent our rooms.”

“I apologize Ibdur,” Iliskra said in a meaningful tone, “I…”

“Nevermind.”

Iliskra gave Leon a curious sideways look, keeping her eyes upward of course.

FORGOTTEN REALMS - Gambit of Scoundrels

“As much as the latter might please me in your case that is not why I am here,” Elthel said, turning away from Leon as she spoke with obvious annoyance at him, “I do in fact have a job for the three of you. Or at least you and your elven companion.”

“Half-elf.” came the expected input from Iliskra.

“Yes, pardon me.” came a rather genuine response from Elthel.

“More skulking about I take it.” Ibdur said with obvious disdain as he slid on his breastplate.

“Yes,” Elthel said with a smirk, “hence my admitted preference for your two comrades over a dwarven berserker.”

Ibdur opened his mouth to retort when Iliskra interjected asking pointedly what the job was exactly. Elthel went straight into the details - she and Iliskra both avoiding looking at Leon and focusing on each other.
“Last night Firoz and I tracked someone we believe to be a very high ranking lieutenant of Shagarm’s to a particularly prominent estate on this side of the river. We had seen the man before but never had the opportunity to follow him to his place of residence. He usually is accompanied by a heavily armed contingent and all of Shagarm’s men seem to answer to him. He may even be Shagarm’s right hand, but we cannot say for absolute certain.”

“How did you finally have an opportunity to follow him?” Iliskra asked.

“Well, we had originally followed a close associate of his that Firoz had marked. He frequents this district. The associate in question is a mage and seemed to have some standing among Shagarm’s men out in the streets. He met with the aforementioned man yesterday morning before parting his company. Realizing we had been lead to a ‘bigger catch’ as they say we shadowed this man to his estate which is heavily guarded. By armed patrols and magic alike.”

“This ‘associate’ - the mage - is he a human man of average size with thick, golden hair?” Iliskra immediately questioned.

“Yes,” Elthel replied with raised brows, “you have seen him then?”

“He is staying at this very tavern in fact,” Iliskra grinned, “I eavesdropped on he and some of his men yesterday afternoon. They mentioned serving a ‘Jadarl’ who apparently tasked Gunalar with wiping out the last of your guild in exchange for being allowed to join Shagarm’s ranks.”

“I see.” Elthel nodded slowly, her blue eyes lighting up with consideration even as a glower tugged at her brow. “So… this Jadarl was the one approached who Gunalar… or perhaps it was the other way round. Either way, between having the position to bring people on for Shagarm’s forces and holding authority over so many of Shagarm’s men I dare say that we indeed know now who Shagarm’s right hand is. This Jadarl that Firoz and I followed last night.”

“I take it then that the job in question is that you wish Leo and I to partake in infiltrating Jadarl’s estate.” Iliskra queried.

“Yes indeed.”

2100 ☢️ BADLAND REPUBLIC

“I know what we must do.” Josiah repeated with a louder tone, sensing that he was losing the ear of some among the gathered crowd. Josiah felt a familiar anger welling up within him however he quickly suppressed it. Many of the folk of Havenwood were weary, while others were too content with themselves or uncaring about the community as a whole. He understood of course, but did not concur with nor condone such attitudes. There was the individual of course, but individualism was not what Havenwood stood for. Certainly it was not what was needed.

”We must prepare ourselves.” A pause and stray mumbling among those who listened. ”We will continue to shore up our defenses here. We will continue to gather food and supplies and salvage weapons and equipment to defend Havenwood. And we must continue to foster relations between us and the other good people of the region. The towns and trading posts. Rafeton was not the only place that could be relied us on to call us friends.”

“Which means that nothing will be done about Rafeton and more of our kind will die without any worry among those who oppress us! All you have for us is to tell us to sit here and do the same damned things we have been doing for years now?” shouted the same green-skinned woman. “Hoarding away scraps and waiting for the day Republic gunships begin strafing the forest while the Blackwatch pick us off like fleeing hares? Not doing more to secure a position for ourselves?”

”What would you have us do then?” Josiah demanded over the once again growing cacophony.

“We can’t face the Republic directly, but there are other ways to fight them! Poison their water supply, burn the fields around their precious city, and harass their soldiers for every step they take into the wastes! Just as a start!”

”Such rash, foolish actions have been brought up before and my answer then is the same as now.”

“We are all sick of this, Josiah! Your message of peace is running its course to the end! The New Republic and the Blackwatch would see us all killed and everything we’ve all built here destroyed. I saw we fight! We fight for what is ours!”

”No!” Josiah’s hand came down a third time on the railing, the hardest strike of the three, but his cry was drowned in the wash of agreement behind the mutant females’ words as fists were raised and blades and gun barrels were waved about in the air. Those who had distanced themselves from the assembly were taking more notice now, a growing agitation filled the room. A single shot rang out followed by several yelps of surprise and near total silence after. One of the volunteer guards up on the scaffolding had fired his revolver into the air to silence the uproar.

”I will condone no courses of aggression against the New Republic of Sevara,” Josiah barked, ”we can - and will - defend ourselves but there will be no war. If you all wish to contribute - to make a difference - then you all know what the collective needs are. As a matter of fact another expedition is being organized as I speak now. Rather than rabble rousing here in the mine make yourselves useful. I have lead you for years and you have all trusted me this long. You must continue to trust me, to believe that what I do I do for us all and that I am considering much that it seems that many among you are not. I will get Havenwood through this long, dark tunnel in which we find ourselves - I just need time and support. From all of you. And make no mistake; if I hear so much as another fleeting rumor about action against the New Republic I will launch a full investigation and any who decide it their place to apply consequential effort at Havenwood’s expense will be disciplined. Heed my words.”

And with this final scathing promise Josiah turned away from the gathered citizens of Havenwood and clomped off towards his personal quarters, the rusted metal girders beneath his thin boots rattling in tune with his departure.

---

Pete heard it first. The unmistakable buzzing roar of dune racer engines, at least a dozen of them if not more. At first no one thought anything of it, vehicles of all sorts regularly come to Sully’s Rest. From rusted out racers to rebuilt high-end sports cars salvaged from a metro lockup. The sounds drew closer, and it quickly became clear that the racers were not coming from any one direction but all around. Stella looked over her shoulder from where she stood at the frier, Tony the repairman stepped out from his shop with a curious look on his face, and up atop the wall Pete impulsively brought his old rifle up at the ready - the young watchman next to him following in suit sensing a dreadful aurora that hung in the air.

“Is it those damned Striders again?” someone down at the Dine-Out yelled in an annoyed tone.

“Sounds like it.” Pete called down, his right index finger tapping lightly against the trigger. The watchman saw a motion to his right, whipping his head around to see a single dune racer bike come zooming out between two small croppings of rock, speeding across the sands towards Sully’ Rest. The figure aback it wore the telltale dirty mismatched set of a jump suit and ragged wastelander clothing that marked the Striders. At first Pete thought the rider was coming in for a stop and relaxed somewhat, however as they drew closer and did not make a turn towards the gate his angst just as quickly returned.

“What’s he doing?”

Pete’s mouth parted though he had no reply for the man at his side, watching as the rider pulled up just twenty feet from the corner of the wall. Pete saw their left hand come up suddenly and a flash of metal in the sun. As the word “Down!” tore from between his lips there was a burst of automatic gunfire. Pete stumbled to his right as his fellow watchman fell back and hurtled down onto the sands below crashing into the ground just inside the gate. There were shouts of panic as a group of customers near the store lay eyes on the fallen watchman, blood pooling across his still chest. Stella stood frozen behind the counter, eyes wide and mouth agape at the sudden gunning down of the man. The roar of engines now surrounded the entire trading post as more automatic gunfire could be heard, another of the watchmen tumbled down from his post atop the small inn - riddled with bullet holes.

“Pete, the gate!” someone screamed.

Pete reached for the red button on the grimy panel nearby, slapping his palm against it and taking cover as the heavy gate swung shut with a harsh grinding of rusty gears and cable. Pete raised his head up again only to be forced to duck back low by another drive-by that peppered splinters onto his head and shoulders. Down below Tony rushed back inside his garage while Stella and other patrons and visitors alike dove for cover. Bullets began tearing through the tin walls and ricocheting all around as Sully’s Rest came under a surprise assault.

“The Striders are attacking us!”