Crannoc almost jumps in the air like a startled cat (how ironic, he thinks) when Jasper the gnoll appears next to him with the mace.

Suppressing an alarmed yowl and settling himself, he addresses the disguised tabaxi in a whisper:  "I think the think the others are on their way out as well, like forest animals fleeing a spreading fire.  We should be going ourselves."  Crannoc guesses that Jasper knows all this better than he does.

If there are no guards immediately visible from their hiding spot, Crannoc assumes that the cat-man's disguise will be sufficient to throw off suspicion.  So he switches Temuth's Guidance to himself, trying to sneak over to the outer fence of the compound.  If at any point Crannoc thinks guards may be coming and he sees a way to Misty Step out to safety, he does so.

Stealth plus Guidance:  17 + 4 

Jasper takes one last look around for guard patrols, etc. and then follows Crannoc to the rear fence/wall and uses his superior climbing ability to scale it and hop over. (Climbing speed 20ft)

After a few minutes, all members of your group have made it off of the property. You’re a small ways away now, likely out of the house guard’s view when you track each other down and reconvene.

(OOC: Well done all! That was fun. Kudos to Miesha's efforts out front! haha)

The still disguised Jasper says in his raspy voice "oooooh, that guy's gonna be reeeal mad, hehehehehe". He shows the mace to the party. "Anyone know of a good place to hide this?" Looking to Crannoc he adds "maybe conjure up a tree or a rock to hide it in the middle of until we are to leave town, eh?"

(As the team catches up in the coming minutes Jasper would also share what they saw of animated armor, the final office where they found the items of interest, the arcane paper, etc.)

Maggwyn smiles at her friend, "Of course you would find something like that." looking at the mace.  Once he lets them know what they found upstairs, Maggwyn responds, "Man, they must have animated armor all over, we ran into a huge one when we found this," she shows them the gem she got out of the breastplate.  "Sure glad you guys found what I hope the woman is looking for (sorry can't remember her name at the moment).  Shall we be off before they start looking around the area?"

Crannoc is at a loss as to describe the... visit to the den of the Aoswell city-folk leader (or one of the leaders anyway), so he leaves it to others.

When asked to create an illusion to hide the mace, he looks a bit puzzled:  "Any visual Minor Illusion I can create is stationary and only lasts a short while (1 minute).  Or are you saying I should just stand next to it and keep re-creating the illusion to hide the weapon while all of you return to Birgon's shop?"

(He is being serious in his question and might be willing, though he might start to wonder if Jasper is just trying to get rid of him.)

Quote from Kalix77 >>

(OOC: Well done all! That was fun. Kudos to Miesha's efforts out front! haha)

 

 ((Well I obviously built a Paladin precisely so I could play the role of Karen and ask to speak to people's manager!))  :D

     Miesha went right back to the room, doing her best to try not to be noticed, and getting back into her Molten Bronze armor.  She feels fairly certain nobody would connect the bronze warrior with the annoying woman, even if she did meet them again.  Though she hopes not to meet them again.  Once re-armored and all, Miesha will re-unite with the rest wherever they planned to meet (perhaps even in the rooms) and inquire about what that was all about and if they were successful in their exploits.

     If given the full details, Miesha will express shock and dismay!  "Why I never would have... How dare you...  Next time you tell me first!"  Basically it'll be conveyed that if she is working with them she expects full details, how else can she know how best to help them?  There may be things she does not wish her name (or face, etc) associated with but they can either figure out a way for her to contribute incognito or perhaps she can sit those rare situations out...  Of course if she is going to be helping them on this kind of thing she expects fair renumeration and reciprocal considerations.  "I may ask you to do something you're not always eager for as well.  But I'd expect you to stick your neck out for me just as much as I do for you..."

     If Miesha is not given the full details her reaction will depend on how well she is deceived.  If her insight allows her to know she is being lied to (or kept in the dark) she will allow it but be a lot more aware of what her new companions are doing in the future...

Kass spends the walk back picking twigs and leaves out of the gaps in her armor. "I do not think any stealth field can help someone who lacks skill for stealth on their own."

After hearing Jasper describe the armor, she joins in. "The warrior Maggwyn and I encountered such foes as well. I dispatched one, and the others I saw killed one of the house guards. I fear we may not have been the only ones after the information located in that abode. We should notify our employer that she has rivals."

Miesha - You see the mace in a gnoll’s hand (though you here Jasper’s voice from it). It’s very decadent, though not at the expense of function. It is mostly made of some refined silvery metal, but it has edges of a darker material. The most odd thing: you recognize it.

Everyone - If anyone would like to examine the papers they found they may make an Investigation check. If you’ve resolved everything that you intend  to, then Birgon is likely available at her shop for whenever you return.

Jasper would not go out of his way to explain too many details of the intent of their mission to Miesha, but given the items taken he would definitely lean towards being deceitful at least in implying that there was some shady stuff going on in that house and it's a good thing that they helped a larger entity out with their investigation.

Before returning to town and turning in the papers Jasper would indeed look them over privately (without Miesha). He would also drop his disguise somewhere in the woods once fully clear of danger.

Investigation: 26

Jasper would also try to sneak back into town and not from the direction of the manor they just robbed. He'd verify the group's story with everyone before encountering others as well, perhaps saying they watched the arrivals from afar since they did get a look at the procession originally anyhow. Lastly he'd look for a good place to hide the mace in case anyone comes looking, perhaps under rocks in the woods, etc. pending input from the party. He'll retrieve it once any reaction from the owner of the manor has passed.

Crannoc schools his face to stillness as Jasper spins his version of the truth about the incursion into the house - though he can't deny that there did seem to be something shady going on in the den of that town leader.  And not the "nice dappled shade of a tree in a forest meadow" type of shady....

He is relieved to see that cat-man drop the gnoll disguise.  The only indication that there might be a bit more to the story than Jasper is letting on is the slight wobbling of the sycamore seedling on Crannoc's shoulder.  He smiles uncertainly at the rest of the group.

     When Miesha reunites with the rest she is quite eager to hear how things went and if they were successful in…  whatever they were doing.  She finds Jasper less than trustworthy, however.  She does not call him out on this but does narrow her eyes and remark that she’s glad she hadn’t hurt anyone over this…  There may or may not be an implied threat.  Not even Miesha is sure herself.

     “That weapon,” Miesha says sharply and suddenly upon seeing it.  “You… liberated… that mace from Sir Brodstin’s?”  She steps forward, unmeaning to, as she asks, her curiosity forcing the motion.  

"Well, yes, of course. We can't have such a fine weapon in the hands of someone under such an investigation until the work is complete."

Maggwyn smirks as Jasper responds to Miesha about the mace.  "Alright, lets get back to the apothecary's with what we have.  I'm curious if she'll enlighten us more about the one that lives here." 

"Who is this Sir Brodstin? A hero or paragon of some kind?"

Jasper - Reading through the papers, it is clear that there is some combination of foreign language and code being used to hide most messages. What you can decipher in the time that you took to look over them is that there is correspondence between a "Major General" and Sir Brodstin, though he is referred to as "Lieutenant General Brodstin." There is some talk in these letters about North Vexcall troop and political leader movements as well as some brief mention of "home," though where exactly that is is unclear.

     “Sir Brodstin,” Miesha replies to Kass, “Is one of the people I kept busy outside the manor.  It is his manor, I am to believe…. Further, I vaguely remember him now from before.  During the war.  South Vexall was fighting the conniving Central peoples.  Lord Brodstin fought in that war.  I don’t think we were ever in the same regiment or such but seeing that mace makes me recall we were at least in some of the same battles.  I recall seeing him wield that weapon…”

"Ah yes, I see. This elementary cipher is easily deduced when one properly accounts for the..."  "AHHH" Jasper holds his head again as a sharp pain overtakes him. Taking his hat off to fan himself he catches his breath and remarks more casually "ah, yup, definitely some incriminating stuff in there, for sure". After taking another moment to recover from whatever affliction had briefly overtaken him the tabaxi stands and says "right, to the apothecary!"

(Maggwyn knows that Jasper is absolutely not known for speaking in any sort of fancy, hoity toity language other than a few recent ramblings.)

On the way to the apothecary Jasper asks Maggwyn, or anyone else who wants to offer up information, if they found anything else 'interesting' in the house.

Crannoc tries to make sense of it all, his sycamore seedling wobbling almost off his shoulder.

"But if these are all different packs.  North Vexcall and South and Central.  And Sir Brodstin was fighting for the South or Central and he is now helping to lead the North here in Aoswell... is he a..." (Crannoc struggles to find the right word) "... a spy?"

He looks with concern as Jasper seems to alter his tone of communication and holds his head.  What has happened to the cat-man?  Crannoc calls on Temuth's Guidance and tries to do a Medicine check on Jasper if he will allow.

Medicine plus Guidance:  21 + 2 = 23.  (Rolled on character sheet, visible in campaign log.)