"Yes, you're right, I'll save this for later, just wanted to see what it was." Tylaerys says to Finn with a nod. "It seems to be some kind of journal, could be very helpful, good work Yeshil." She then turns and says to the girl with an appreciative smile. The young blonde half-elf then shifts slightly at Jirel's words, glancing up at her quickly with her silvery eyes. She looked forward to have the blonde giantess in action once more, and feeling quite eager to push on she follows close behind the others, using her sensetive elven eyes to scan the darkness beyond the light.

Stealth: 14
Perception: 7 

Yeshil 'smiles' back at Tylaerys, but it's more of a grimace. How could she be so nice all the time? The rogue felt like she could bear it if blondie was being falsely saccharine and simply pretending to care - that was what she expected of people - but it was so genuine! and for some reason that bothered her more. People just weren't like that!

With her thoughts still on recent events, Yeshil follows after the group, allowing them to pick their way forward, but calling out to indicate the direction she took.
Downstairs, not up. A few flights down and it hits stone. There should be a way out from there.

Jirel nods to Finn, then adjusts her attire to make sure none of her good furs don't snag and her large weapon fits with her through the tight opening. She'd go first, taking the lead. Then she notes Yeshil's suggestion to focus on the downstairs for a smoother exit. Though, she was curious. "Know what's up Little One?" She asks.

The party heads through the broken passage into the warehouse on the other side.  The upper levels are a maze of catwalks and pulley systems for moving material below.  The lowest floor is full of storage racks, containing wooden items for construction such as roof beams, ships masts and wagon wheels.

In one of the main ground floor aisles, the party comes across the remains of seven dragon cultists, all stabbed to death and lying in pools of sticky blood.  There are a number of exit doors, along with several large, shuttered doors suitable for moving big items.  One of the smaller access doors is standing slightly open, allowing you to slip out into the Baldur's Gate night.  

The young blonde silver-scaled half-elf follows Jirel and the others down the stairs, curious silvery eyes looking around her as she goes. It would have been good to know what the cult was doing here. Maybe reading the journal Yeshil found would help with that. As she sees the seven dragon cultists stabbed to death here eyes narrows slightly as she looks over at the girl. Tylaerys didn't doubt she was competent for a child, dangerous even, or the Arcane Brotherhood wouldn't have invited her into the fold, but this was impressive beyond what she even could imagine. There was far more to the girl than met the eyes.

Int check to get a clue of what the cult was up to in the warehouse: 11
Perception to notice things that could help with above: 23

 

     "Don't forget this!" Finn calls out just as the group is leaving and picks up the sack with 60 silver pieces (Finn is good at judging these things by weight) that Jararaka had plopped down on a table - Likely plunder from those they had killed and left behind?  ((Not sure we're that desperate for coin but it's either Jararaka's or 15 silver each since they're MIA?))

     Finn then follows Jirel into the warehouse side of the building and slowly down to the floor.  Finn is truly impressed by the number of dead Yeshil left littering the place and lets out a low whistle to show it.  "Remind me never to face you in a fair fight, eh?" she says and gives the kid a good natured wink.

     "Now what?" Finn asks as she selects a door to exit out into the fresh air through.  She scans the area to make sure it's clear then steps out and waves the others through.  "All the bother has me a bit scrambled.  Were we planning to buy art?"

"Perhaps the acquiring of the art could wait until tomorrow..." The young blonde half-elf say quietly, sounding quite weary. "...it is quite late after all. I could do with some rest now, and it's way past her bedtime anyway." She continues, giving Yeshil a wink. While the others decide where to go next, Tylaerys watches for cultists and Flaming Fists and other threats, seeming eager to get away from this part of Bladur's Gate.

Perception: 21

Jirel grumbles with pursed lips. Truthfully she lost track of the timing, what their plans were, and what order they were supposed to happen in. Heck, if she was being honest, she didn’t even remember what the goal of this infiltration was, if there was one. Not to mention she’s in no need to rest. She barely did anything. Honey hues just scan the others. It was obvious they participated in efforts, thus she couldn’t do much complaining if they wanted a rest. The best she can offer is to cover watch when they do. 

Despite making it through the ordeal uninjured, Yeshil was amenable to the idea of some rest, and didn't even bother to respond to Tylaerys' cheeky jibe.

I might be able to find us some place to crash... It won't be fancy, but beats sleeping in the street.

(How far from here to the Arcane Brotherhood HQ?)

"Thanks Yeshil, just say where we're heading?" Tylaerys says with a grateful but somehwat weary smile, ready to follow the green girl to whatever resting place she will find for them.

     Rest.  Rest would be good.  It was a much tougher night than she expected, even if a much shorter one.  Finn is tired and hurt and ready to put her feet up, take this face off, and relax.  If Yeshil knows a place then Finn is happy to follow the little assassin.

[For the record, you obtained permission from Ackyn Selebon to sleep in the back of the wagon shop... Post #1732.  Actually, this is the same post that discusses the sharing of the bark visions.

If you want, we can go back there for the night, or we can visit Yeshil's contacts and see if they will be as accomodating.

This has also been a long day, so even if Jirel isn't wounded or battle-tested, she would probably be tired... this is the late evening of the same day you harassed Volo, got the bark vision, etc.  This day has been going on since 2023, for IRL context....]

As the party slips out a side door of the warehouse, Tylaerys peeks back onto the main street.  There, she sees not two but four Flaming Fist soldiers standing outside the front door of the flophouse.  They seem to be having a spirited conversation, with the two who had been wrangling Jirel under aggressive questioning from the two newcomers.

Jararaka's tail drags behind her in the street.  "Where ever we are heading, lets head there now.  I am exhausted."

OOC: Yeshil would still like to try the AB HQ. They can study the journal there and immediately pass on the info to her superiors, so at least she has something to report. However no need to RP it at length - can just summarise if it helps keep things moving. I'm fact can still go there and do that, even if we can't actually sleep there, and then move on to the wagon shop.

"No less than four Flaming Fists this way. Wherever we're heading we should maybe try some other way." Tylaerys turns after peeking out on the main street and quitely says to the others in the team, looking down the other side of the alley for another way out of here.

     "The long way around it is then!" Finn says with forced enthusiasm.  "We really need to pick up a variety of different cloaks and other outer layers so we can alter our appearance more often.  Too many people looking for us too often, it seems."

     Other than the fashion tip, Finn follows young Yeshil's lead.  If nothing else it'll be interesting to see this Arcane Brotherhood and try to figure out their deal.

Yeshil leads the group west, into the Baldur's Gate neighborhood known as the Steeps.  It is so named for the land here slopes sharply upward from the docks toward the highlands of the Upper City.  Some the streets are so steep, single buildings have street access from multiple floors.  There are fewer bars and taverns in this area, but more warehouses, so the nighttime street traffic is less drunken tourists and more gruff night laborers and longshoremen.

She leads them to an unassuming, narrow office building of three stories.  After several knocks, a concerned-looking half-elven woman with long golden hair and spectacles comes to a window.  She opens the door, takes a long look at the crew and then brings Yeshil inside for a few minutes.

Yeshil:

 After Yeshil brings the others inside, they find themselves in small reception area with paintings of ships and sunsets on the walls.  Beyond that, behind a door, is a larger office space, decorated with fresh flowers and paintings of mountain meadows in springtime.  A pair of bookshelves behind a desk hold expensive but common encyclopedia's and popular history books.  [Its all quite dark, mind you, so those without darkvision are mostly just bumping around in the office.]

Other than a pair of desk chairs, there is a single large sofa in the office and another in the reception area.  Otherwise, campers in the office will need to rely on bedrolls or just sleep on the floor.

Jararaka binds her wounds, holding scaled flesh tight over multiple cuts and bruises, before curling up in a corner, too tired and hurt to do much else tonight.

[The party can take a long rest, and the narrative will pick up the following morning.  There are candles to light if the party wants to read and discuss that cultist's journal and you can roleplay through any debriefing you like of the day's events.

A few reminders:

• Not this coming morning, but the following morning, the caravans are set to leave for the north.  You have made arrangements for a wagon and oxen.  At present, Jararaka has hired on to manage a team of guards so she will be accompanying the caravan undercover in that fashion.  The rest of you had planned to pose as traders and their guards and to follow the caravan undercover in your own fashion.
• There was talk of spending the coming day purchasing cheap trade goods to fill your wagon with to complete the illusion.
• This coming evening, you have potential dinner arrangements as Volo himself has invited you to be his guests for an evening of entertainment at the Low Lantern, a ship converted into a floating bar/casino in the harbor.]

The young blonde silver-scaled half-elf feels quite relieved as the team is let into the Arcane Brotherhood safehouse, easily navigating the darkness within as she makes her way to and slumps down into the sofa in the reception area, trying to make herself comfortable there, bringing up some dried fruit, bisquits and water for an evening snack as she lights a nearby oil lamp to be able to read the journal Yeshil acquired. She also makes sure to offer Jirel some of her snacks to soothe that grumbling stomach of hers.

Eventually she will use the sofa or her bedroll to sleep soundly to be fully rested for a day of purchasing art and dining with the famous Volo.

     Finn is all too happy to find a corner in which to unroll her bedroll and plop down.  She has no desire to poke around at the books, look at the paintings or do anything but rest.  As she too cleans and binds her wounds she looks over at Jararaka and sees they're probably a bit worse off than she herself.  "A good night's rest will do us both some good," she offers with a smile, a healing word slipped into the otherwise meaningless statement.  (7hp to Jararaka, as if it mattered.)

     Laying back and getting comfortable, mostly meaning finding a position that doesn't aggravate her wounds, Finn silently summons Mrs. Binklesworth and has her lay curled up atop her and play watch-kitty for once Finn dozes off.  

     "We really don't need to buy trade goods or paintings," she thinks to herself while in that drowsy, happy, comfortable realm between awake and sleeping.  "Crates and straw should do..."

     Finn doesn't fall immediately to sleep if there is talk or discussions going on before sleep, but once a general quiet falls over the group she softly hums a Song of Rest (+6 hp healing, which doesn't matter on a long rest...) 

---

     In the morning Finn spends some time petting her feline familiar and adopts a new face.  Finn's skin tone darkens, he hair grows longer, the texture changes.  Her body changes in some subtle and not so subtle ways.  As this is happening she is also setting about adjust her clothing, what she is wearing and how she is wearing it, in an attempt to be entirely unrecognizable from who she was yesterday...

     "Morning," she says cheerfully once the transition is complete.  "We need to find some bacon and croissants for breakfast!"

Yeshil is quiet and thoughtful throughout the trip to the Steeps and even once inside the office. It had indeed been a very crowded day, with so much to process... and Yeshil needed time and space to think. These relatively new companions had contributed much to her goals, so finding them this space to rest was the least she could offer, and although she still struggling with the idea of forsaking her independence, she was starting to see the fruits of working together with others, in a more personal way than the loose association that the Arcane Brotherhood represented. Each had displayed qualities or abilities that Yeshil couldn't decide whether she despised or admired: Ty's poise and sincerity, Jirel's loyalty and physique, Jararaka's confidence and devotion, Finn's -- ... actually Yeshil saw more of herself in Finn... rebellion, secrecy, independence, spontaneity... but also a social charm that Yeshil could never attain.

The girl was too tired to study the journal herself, and so had left it with Ty to interpret. All the same, she hoped there was something contained within that would shed further light on the activities of the Cult, and tie all the threads together. Resting in the corner, Yeshil sorted through her thoughts, occasionally asking Ty quietly what she had found so far, and assimilating any useful information (with Finn also listening in), before eventually succumbing to mental exhaustion and drifting off to sleep.

The morning would bring yet another physical change to Finn... with an aptitude which Yeshil envies above all others, and shamelessly stares at with admiration. "Wait here." she offers to Finn's suggestion, then heads out the door alone to 'procure' breakfast for the group, being sure to acquire an extra portion for Jirel's inevitable desire for seconds. She didn't know what croissants were, and assumed they were above the usual fare of working-class Baldur's Gate, but was sure she could locate something edible.

Jirel had been curious to try to eavesdrop on the guards conversation, however with others ready to move on she just lumbers along with the occasional huff or grunt. She’s as patient as a hungry battle starved barbarian could be. Her body’s on autopilot while her head is in a daze. 

Once inside the hideout provided by Yeshil, Jirel just finds an unoccupied corner on the floor and out of the way, spacing out each time a change in appearance is suggested. At this point her identity was already mostly stripped. Maybe she may as well go prance around in a dress to be completely unrecognizable. As long as she didn’t look like herself right? She exhales a breath and accepts snacks handed to her with a mutter of thanks. She eats enough to stop the rumble, lays to rest and rolls over.

Come morning Jirel just lays awake for a while before eventually sitting up. She’s groggy, stiff and hungry. Sleeping in these city spaces were stuffy and made her voice more gruff. It was never the same restful sleep as she would outside, but it was somewhere the others felt comfortable and safe, so she wouldn’t complain outside of the occasional clearing of her throat. Her stomach did most of the complaining for her, and would be thankful when Yeshil would be thoughtful with acquiring extra helpings.

It’d take a while, and not without apprehension and her guard up, for Jirel to adjust to Finn’s new face. It seemed to always make her uneasy, unsure of what to think or feel about it. It was convenient to say the least. And the other’s liked it. But she wasn’t sure if she’d ever get used to it.