Verona nods back at Thomas then the gates opened. In a firm tone she says "I am Verona. With natures aid I can help quell a riot, but I hope violence is used as a last resort. Now what task will we be given?"

Aurelia, you see that Vane, although somewhat hard to read, seems to emulate just about any other officer of the Flaming Fist
Thomas, you notice Vane's posture speaks of one that is extremely confident, you noticed the way she easily commanded the soldier before she came to speak with you all. You also notice that she seems relieved at the group's presence

She nods along as you all introduce yourself. "You all seem competent, which is good. The Fist can use some capable hands. Especially now. Something is pushing the commoners into a frenzy and I don't like it. If that mob attacks these barracks with the Captain and most of our troops absent... let's just say the Captain needs to be here." She stepped up and with clenched jaws looked at all of you. "You must find him. If you run into any of the nobles' guards out there, you have to avoid them and if you cannot, you must not answer any of their questions."

"Alright, find the captain and avoid the noble guards. Lets head out. I lived here for a number of years and know the way." Verona shifts her pack and waits for the others before heading for the East Gate

Thomas audibly rolls his eyes. ‘Politics, now?! You don’t argue about shares while the ship is sinking…’ he comes to a decision ‘Very well, Lieutenant. We can discuss terms once the compound is secured…’

He shares a look with Aurelia ‘You know the city better than me, is there a back route to the eastern gate that will avoid the main streets?’

Aurelia looks thoughtful, a tiny wisp of steam escaping from her nostrils and shakes her head slightly, her crest flipping over like human hair (a dragonborn equivalent of bangs.) 

Glancing at Thomas she half smiles. "There are dozens of ways around a city like this Captain but not all of them are quick or safe. I have a feeling we'll be earning our pay today. You heard the Lieutenant, we'll want to avoid the guards belonging to the nobles so that probably we'll have to run through the poorer streets - or even the sewers though that should be a last resort!"

The explanation of their dire straits gives Leyrin an air of urgency and he nods firmly in agreement to the lieutenant's orders. The last sentence, however, gives him pause. "I understand, but can I ask why is it necessary to avoid the guards like this?"

He inclines his head slightly to acknowledge his companions. "I'll leave navigation in your capable hands." He replies, grateful that others were familiar with the city. He was once familiar with these streets, but it'd been some time ago, and the city had changed during his absence.

"I imagine that time is of the essence here." He half glances at the lieutenant, as if seeking confirmation. "So we may need to sacrifice safety and comfort for speed." He pauses, wrinkling his nose slightly in distaste at the thought of wading through the sewers. "That being said, let's keep the sewers as a backup plan for now."

"I don't have solid proof of this," Vane said as she started walking back, "but I have heard reports of the guards putting an end to adventurers trying to quell the riots. Best if you not try and prove this rumour, if you catch my drift."

With that, she turned and walked away, headed towards the building. You all watch as another soldier steps up beside her and sparks a heated, but muted conversation as they both enter the building.

(OOC: You can now choose to either go through the alleyways which may take longer; through the main roads which may be dangerous and draw eyes on you; or find a way through the sewers)

Verona looks to her companions "I think we should take the main roads as I fear we may be too late if we take the alleyways. What do you think Aurelia?"

Hope silently prays and hopes for a sign on the best course of action.

(Hope will do whatever the group wants unless her patron has other ideas.)

Flash claps Verona on the shoulder. "I'm with you Verona. Time waits for no one, be they human, Tiefling, or anyone else. And if we run into any nobles' lackeys, well, something tells me we'll be okay."

Thomas snorts at Flash’s bravado ‘I’m not one to run from a fight, but if nobles are after blood it would be like swimming with sharks, just after someone has shanked you. I’m for the back route though, not the sewers, I’ve waded through enough of them in my time, and these ones will be swimming in shit with all these refuges…’

Aurelia looks thoughtful. "My instincts say the alleys are safest but it is true we need to be swift. If we do risk the main streets let's have a good story though - bounty hunters after a criminal or something of the kind. Anyone know anyone useful we could claim to be hunting?"

Thomas suddenly grins ‘If anyone knows the names of a couple nobles, we can always pretend to be working for a noble…? Either way, the tide won’t wait for us. Let’s be off…’

He loosens his rapier in its scabbard, and checks his short bow is properly stung, before striding out of the gate. ‘Coming?’ he asks the others with a soft laugh.

The Eladrin looks thoughtful at the Lieutenant's answer, accepting it without further queries. Leryin nods eagerly in agreement at the consensus of following the main streets. "If we should be unlucky enough to encounter any guards, it shouldn't be difficult to bluff our way through. Worst case scenario, we'll always have the alleyways to fall back onto."

The discussion of concocting a pretense causes his expression to brighten. "Having a good excuse beforehand would be useful. Let me think..." He racked his brains, trawling through memories of his family's dealings with members of the nobility - as well as gossip heard through the grapevine after his return - for a suitable name to present as their cover as he gives Thomas a nod of acknowledgment. "I'm ready."

(Assuming a history roll would be relevant? 7)

Verona nods "The story makes sense. The main roads it is then" She heads for the East Gate using the main roads

As Verona begins walking, the rest of you follow. The entire city abuzz with distant clashes, a fire rages far off to your left, a thick pillar of black smoke rising. You see people scrambling to quell the flames. As you all walk further, you begin to see bodies on the floors, of both Fists and armed civilians. Leryin, try as you might to remember the names of nobles that have had several dealings with your family, you can't quite get there, and just as you think you are, the sight of the bodies make those names vanish.

Thomas, Flash, and Verona: you three see about 50 feet away, three figures standing in a rough circle, wearing black uniforms underneath their armour. One of them lazily leaning against a wall. They do not seem to have noticed you.

"These poor souls, may Ilmater lessen their pain..." Hope whispers under her breath. She finds it difficult to understand why the city is on the verge of rioting. People in Baldur's Gate seem quite cruel. It makes her miss her home, and her heart becomes heavy. She looks to her companions to see their reactions to this carnage, curious if they were as sensitive to it as she was... Or if they were made of tougher stuff. She wondered what it would be like to trade in empathy for apathy.

Thomas holds up a hand to stop the others ‘Armed people ahead. They’ve not seen us yet.’ he stage-whispers ‘I don’t like leaving potential enemies behind me, but there could be more we haven’t seen…’

He quickly looks around for any sign they’re not alone.

(Perception: 18)

A tear falls as Verona surveys the grisly scene.  She covers her mouth with her left hand as a reminder to not feed on the dead. She kneels down next to 2 of the fallen, ignoring the armed men. How can this happen. This is madness. She closes their eyes with a brush from her hand. Verona whispers "Your fight is over. May you find peace"

She angrily wipes away her tear coming back to the hear and now. "Shall we proceed with our story?"

 Whatever Leyrin was preparing to say dies in his mouth when they spot the first body, the color draining out of his face as he regards the bodies in the streets, not expecting to be confronted with such a visceral scene inside his city. How much had to go wrong for the citizens of Baldur's Gate to descend to this?  He wanted to do something, to give them a proper sendoff, but - preventing further tragedies come first.

He drags his gaze away from the bodies with some difficulty at the mention of people up ahead, finally paying attention to other parts of their environs for signs of immediate danger. "Is there a way to circle around them?" He whispers back a question. "No point catching their attention if they haven't seen us yet."