Beren walks quickly to where Olamoira is... what is she doing with Karl? The light flickers as he realizes that Olamoira seems to be comforting the drunk kid. Well, perhaps he shouldn't have expected different. He looks around, noting the soulless as he makes his way into the alley. 

"Nivi and Jack are in... but it appears our enemy has been tailing us," he crosses his arms, the light flickering angrily as he briefly looks over his shoulder. "I don't know how much Wachter already knew before we attempted to infiltrate. It is possible that Jack and Nivi have already been found out." He steps closely to Karl, "We may need to keep Wachter's son as a hostage. It may not guarantee their safety, but it is worth a try. For now, we should seek out Luvash. We may need whatever help he can offer after all, not to mention the fact that Wachter intends to have him killed." His voice grows harder, "It seems Wachter wanted us to take care of that for her. She is a servant of Strahd, and Strahd wants Luvash dead." 

He proceeds to lean over and attempt to lift Karl up, assuming Moira doesn't object. If she says anything, he'll stop midway though the action before backing off to listen to whatever she has to say. 

Olamoira sits ruminating and comforting the drunk Karl who seems finally to have drifted into something of a hopefully restful slumber. Under the dark, pale, and desolate cloudy skies, a brilliant celestial light in the corner of her eye turns her head immediately to its source, and a wave of relief washes over her as she recognizes Beren approaching, releasing knots of fear that she wasn't even fully cognizant of, of wondering what had happened in the manor. As the sunny knight walks up, Ola leaps to her feet with a beaming smile, and throws her arms around him like someone who was drowning and just got pulled from the water. Her evident happiness at seeing him is quickly curtailed, though, by a searing pain that makes her recoil. Ouch, ouch, my lord, he burns! Of course she ought to have remembered that his light burned her. Whether it was true physical damage or if it was in her mind, fed by her spiritual visions, had always been unclear. But, regardless, it makes her quickly withdraw, although it does little to diminish the smile on her face.

The smile fades in stages, though, as Beren tells her what's happening. Vague, few details, possibly as bad as I expected, deception is never a good plan, it is too easy to be caught in your own webs... oh, how well she knows this! Ola shudders involuntarily. "Now the bones of Saint Andral are forgotten, for the danger Nivi and Jack have been put in? No, no, Beren, surely, we can remedy this with an upfront distraction." Her eyes harden and her expression grows firm. "Let us take this poor creature back to his mother, and storm her gates ourselves in honor and justice." She makes no move to stop him from lifting Karl, possibly assuming that they're going straight back to the manor with him.

Not knowing exactly where Arachno-Jack is, nor that he has encountered a feral woman, Nivi/Karl whispers, perhaps loud enough to carry ten feet:

"Shorty.  Not gonna lie.  Ton of cats in here.  Thinking spider isn't the best way to go unless you stick to the ceiling.  I'd say it's Morty-time so you can sniff out the bones, except then there'd be a boatload of yowling and hissing the second these kitties catch your scent."

Could be, I should just knock them out... never one for hurting animals but need them quiet...

Nivi/Karl takes a moment to give Shiv a chin nod in thanks before dismissing him for now to a pocket dimension, waiting another few moments to give Arachno-Jack a chance to re-enter her hair if he so chooses.  Then, attempting not to disturb the kitties, Nivi peeks quietly into the room to make sure no humanoids are visible inside, then if seeing none moves quietly in, a dagger in each hand, giving the cats a respectful berth, but ready to strike one or two unconscious if the aforementioned yowling and hissing commences.

Nivi/Karl proceeds to search the room for anywhere that bones may be stored, including on or behind bookshelves or in the cabinet, concealed compartments on chair or table.  Also for any further doors (hidden or otherwise) along the borders of this oddly-shaped room.  Making use of her invisible Mage Hand.  She also keeps a careful eye on all the cats, still worried that one or more of them may turn into another Imp and attack her.

Nivi's Perception:  13 (Passive Perception:  17)

Even if the Eladrin could but hear Nivi's words, the Eladrin was nothing if not set upon his current course of action. As she correctly guessed, a dog was just too conspicuous on too many levels, and more liable to rile up the cats than actually act as a helpful deterrent or protection. And then what? Were they to abandon all subtlety blindly rushing to find and follow a scent trail? 

But becoming a rat though, and one of unusual size? Now that would be something perhaps! Their nose were as sharp or sharper than a dog, and cats -- surprisingly enough -- more often than not refused to prey or engage with them, having maybe kept some ancestral instinct or knowledge about the fearsomeness of rats... and their diseases. Not to mention the form being quite capable of squeezing through some tight spaces! 

Alas, such idle thoughts and fancies would continue to play in the backdrop of his thoughts before long, as they had a mission to complete, and likely less time than either thought they might depending on how connected the Wachter lady or her possible constitute might be the the fiend. And while that particular concern left an uncomfortable feeling in his gut, he remained self-assured in his current course of action (see previous post)! For the moment...

Beren is shocked when Olamoira throws her arms around him, and he stands awkwardly with both of his hands half raised while he momentarily processes what's happening. It's been years since anyone greeted him in such a fashion. Fortunately the drow withdraws before he has time to decide whether or not he needs to return the unexpected gesture. Even once she pulls back however, he still stands silently for a moment. It seems Moira's actions had momentarily caused him to blank on what he was going to say. 

After a short moment though, he shakes his head and fills her in on what happened then moves to pick up Karl again. However, her suggestion of bringing the kid back to the manor and then storming it leaves the light flickering in uncertainty. "I don't think that is the wisest option at the moment. This kid is our insurance right now, for Nivi and Jack as well as Luvash." Not that he really holds Luvash in high regard, but they did go through the trouble of saving his daughter, and he doesn't support the vampire. So, Beren does not want to let Wachter do as she sees fit with this town, and if keeping Luvash alive somehow thwarts Strahd's plans, then that's a plus too. "The bones are not forgotten. There is still a chance that Nivi and Jack will be able to find them before they are found out. I do not know whether or not they have been detected yet, but storming the manor now may only put them in more danger." He sighs loudly, sending the usual puff of light through the mask as he shifts Karl's weight on his shoulders. Making plans was not his forte, he'd rather go ahead and storm the keep like Moira is suggesting, but... what if that just ruins the plans they already have in place? Then again, what if Nivi and Jack are already fighting for their lives? What if that Butler just removed Nivi from the room to put her somewhere they could keep her locked up to try and use her against him in some way? If that's the case, then at least having Karl could result in a hostage exchange assuming they don't outright kill Nivi. He shakes his head, clearly irritated, "Let's take Karl to Luvash and see about putting him away for now. Keeping him as a hostage may be useful in the long run... and besides, it may not be fair to him, but if we storm the keep now that would just put him in more danger than simply keeping him locked up." 

He takes a few steps towards the edge of the alleyway, "Also, alerting Luvash might serve as its own distraction. He may not decide to help us storm the manor, but just warning him that Wachter is out for his life may be enough to draw her out. For all we know, she could have spies following us right now..." He shakes his head again, letting out another exasperated sigh, "If I had left on better terms... then perhaps we could have simply walked in again. But no." Of course he had to express his dislike for Strahd. If he hadn't done that then maybe she would have accepted his excuse of needing to talk to his comrades. But no, he had to make his opinion known. Well, he never was one for subtlety. 

Olamoira listens attentively as Beren makes his somewhat irritated case. Her expression softens with worry. "Then we put sin upon sin," she says, "first there is the lie, and second, keeping a hostage to put the pressure of terror on our enemies. Keeping him safe and secured while we storm the manor is acceptable, so that he is not injured nor has the opportunity to act against us, but to keep him hostage for leverage on his mother is wrong. Also, I do not trust Luvash. Even if we would not be willing to mistreat Karl for our own gain, Luvash might be. And once he is in his hands, what then? Or he may simply out of fear send him home. Either way, I think we do not stand to gain any advantage by involving Luvash. The man seeks to deceive and manipulate to maintain his position and the prosperity of the town, and if he has been successful, he is still not to be trusted. And, if Lady Wachter is out for his life, we may put him in unnecessary danger too."

The drow smiles. "So, you left on bad terms, and Nivi and Jack are in there somewhere, we don't know where. Perhaps if we make a distraction, that would help them. Or, they may very well be in great need of our help. We cannot run away to Luvash. If Lady Wachter knows all about us already, I suppose it's very likely that she's trailed you here. Let me see..." Stepping up close to Beren and then a little behind him, Ola casts her magical senses around with Detect Magic, and looks as well, trying to see if she can discern anything either on Beren, trailing him, or in the near vicinity. Then, as if suddenly wary, she places a hand on his shoulder, and murmurs a prayer, granting him Vigilant Blessing.

Perception: 20 (dirty)

Beren puts a hand to his mask, standing slightly crooked due to the weight of Karl. "Keeping him as a hostage has nothing to do with pressuring or trying to frighten Wachter. It is just a precaution in case she tries to do the same with Nivi or Jack, or both. We do not intend to harm Karl..." Well, in all honesty he's not sure why they should care so much about the kid, but clearly Olamoira does so he's not going to push it. "But even so, the same can't be said for Wachter. She will use Nivi and Jack to try and pressure us. I don't see how keeping him as a hostage in order to avoid bloodshed is any more wicked than simply storming in and potentially killing guards alongside Wachter and her other son." 

"I'm not running," He growls in response to Moiras statement about running away to Luvash. He clenches his fist--the one not being used to hold Karl on his shoulder. This whole plan has taken a turn he doesn't like, but then again, who's to say any other plan would have gone differently. Wachter was already aware of their every move it seems, so perhaps storming the keep initially would have been the better plan after all.

He pauses, attempting to let go of his frustration as he further considers the drow's words, giving her a glance as she places a blessing on him. "I... do not trust Luvash either, but I also don't see how warning him of the threat on his life could endanger him more. I thought that perhaps warning him would push him to take action against the evil living in his own town, even if fear held him back before. But perhaps that is too much to ask. I have a feeling that if I told him not to harm Karl, my words would be heeded or at least considered, but then again I don't know." 

After a long pause he says, "Fine. If you do not wish to alert Luvash of the threat on his life, then we will wait. However, we must leave Karl here then. Bringing him with us will only alert Wachter of Nivi's disguise, giving it away if she hasn't already realized that it wasn't her son I brought to her. I also see no point in bringing a half-conscious drunk with us while we walk directly into a fight." He isn't happy with this decision, but it doesn't seem like he'd be particularly pleased with any course of action at this point. Regardless, he's ready to head into battle, if only to blow some steam. ...that ache in his chest hasn't gone away since leaving the manor, so perhaps its time to snuff out the evil that the light is urging him to crush. 

"What she does will be on her, and her soul will be judged accordingly," Olamoira says somberly. "If we are willing to do what she does to accomplish our goals, how are we different from her, or from the one she serves? But, we may leave Karl here, and keep him hidden. It is not necessary, or safe, to return him yet. I trust us, of course, not to do what Luvash might to use him as leverage. If we must trade him later for Nivi and Jack's safety, then we are only requesting a prisoner exchange, which is just. And it is right, also, not to abandon our companions. We would have to go far, to reach Luvash, and it would take time. Let us not risk Luvash's fear, nor give up our proximity to our friends. It might be too late by the time we returned."

She smiles. "Have no fear, Beren! When we stand on what is right, we will not fall! Even those who can destroy the body can do no harm to a righteous soul. Let's go!"

With another long sigh, Beren puts Karl back into the alley. Hopefully they won't come back and find the youth gone, part of him wants to give the kid another whack on the head just to make sure he doesn't wake up again. But, he won't do that with Olamoira watching... and perhaps such action isn't needed anyways, seems how the kid is still mostly out of it. He hesitates, sighing again (he's been doing that a lot today), and turns back to Olamoira. This cleric makes no sense to him... well, she makes some sense, but not enough. He still doesn't see how anything he proposed would make them no different from Wachter. The way he sees it, they are fighting for what's right, and Wachter is an evil servant of darkness. It's not like anything they have done has been done out of pure malice, their choices were simply made because they thought it was the best thing to do. While he has found himself to be frighteningly numb to bloodshed at times, given the option he'll still think about ways to avoid bloodshed... if he gives himself the time to. Often he hasn't even had the option to second guess his actions, as the choices were made for him and he was simply following orders. Now, much to his discomfort, he's starting to wish that someone else was calling the shots here, as he feels that this situation is at least in part his fault. Perhaps that's why he gave in to Olamoira's plan so quickly. Or perhaps he's simply just tired of doing nothing, and subconsciously just wants an excuse to go back in that manor and deliver justice to Wachter. 

Righteous soul? Well, Olamoira might be safe then, but he can't say the same for himself. Regardless, he just nods and starts heading back the way he'd come--back towards the manor. 

As they make their way over, however, he keeps an eye out for anyone who is not a soulless. Perhaps he can have a message sent to Luvash, just to let him know that Wachter seeks to take his life. It may be pointless, but if things start looking bad then maybe, just maybe they'll at least further mess up Wachter and Strahd's plans. Besides, shouldn't they look out for their fellow man? Wouldn't a righteous soul seek to save the life of someone targeted by evil? He smiles faintly--an expression completely hidden by the mask--as he remembers what he'd sensed from the people during the festival. There is only one spark of goodness here in this town, at least as far as he knows, and that is the little girl. So, even if her father isn't the best person, shouldn't they protect him for her sake? 

Perception: 7 (he's looking for someone who he could potentially send to Luvash a message for him)

Luckily chance was on Nivi's side, and the room contained only cats and inanimate objects. These cats did not seem more or less intelligent than any other feline they had ever come across, though the cats did watch her as she intruded upon their space with ire. Nivi spotting that one had a tiny key around its neck attached to its collar as she begins her search in earnest. The cabinet holds a fine collection of wineglasses. The desk contains blank pieces of parchment, quill pens, jars of ink, wax candles, and a wax seal. Books line the many shelves of the room, though there seem to be many empty or nearly-barren shelves (Nivestigation: 10 ) (orig- Nat 1)

Nivi continues searching the room, careful to avoid the cats, and luckily for her, none of them turn out to be imps in disguise so far, but her investigation of the room ultimately turns up nothing beyond what has been found already.

Outside with the other two having a breif discussion on the pro's and cons of several subjects at once, Moira tries to look around as well as reaching her senses out once more. Again there is the blazing of the hilt of the half-broken sword Luvash had given them. (????: 11 )

Her magical senses pick up nothing beyond the hilt of the sword and the natural particles of the fog as they had before, filling the air with glitter to her senses. Moira also keeping her normal senses out, notices a man who is not a soulless standing .. or rather leaning against a wall, looking bored as possible as he did so. Seeing it just as the man had finished flicking his visual orbs her and Berens way. Beren spots him too, not long after finishing his internal monologue as the weight of every decision seems to crash around the group like the ocean and island.

Closing the door behind her and proceeding as if she is continuing her search of the room, Nivi/Karl passes near the cat with the tiny key on its neck.

Without warning, she lashes out with the pommels of both daggers, attacking the cat twice non-lethally, attempting to knock it out.

Action:  dagger non-lethal attack on cat with key:
To hit:  11
Damage:  7 (non-lethal)

Bonus Action:  (only if first attack does not knock the cat out):  off-hand dagger non-lethal attack on cat with key:
To hit:  14
Damage:  3 (non-lethal)

Nivi closes the door, walking up to the keyed-kitten. It begins to hiss a warning, and likely to no ones surprise, avoids the first attack as if it had preternatural senses! However Nivi's followup is quick and almost perfect on the firmness of the strike. The cat goes limp, but not fatally. This however was not unnoticed by the other cats.. if the first strike had not missed.. their hackles all raise, though none seem to transform as Nivi feared they might. A small cacat-phony of hissing and 'reow' echoes in the library. before the several other felines try to look around for an escape.. but the door was closed... so in purr-fect feline fashion, they begin running around the room like children on speed to get away from this invader they had only just barely tolerated entering to begin with, the low mewling, throaty and coming at all angles was getting louder as the cats distress increased. Things began to be knocked from their places as cats ran across them in a tornado of fur.

With Jack, he would likely hear the feline felons making noise in the other room as he was checking out the southernmost door. After he'd finally peeked inside he would discover it to be a storage closet containing various cleaning supplies, and little else of interest.

(sorry again for all the delays)

"Well," Nivi mutters quietly to herself.  "Didn't expect the caterwauling."

In her experience, the multitudinous alley cats of the Dock Ward in Waterdeep were ever hungry and could be quick and vicious and nasty.  Yet, almost to a fault, they were not pack animals.  Far too individualistic for that.  They seldom cared if another of their own was attacked, unless it was a mother cat defending their kittens.  Maybe one of these is a mother cat, eh?  Only, I don't see any kittens now, do I.  At least none of them seems to be an Imp...

Still, this key has to lead somewhere.  I need Shorty in here so he can look for something hidden.  Not gonna happen with these mewling hellcats, though.  (Nivi knows that in her own agitation, she has likely done a poor job investigating the room for possible clues and is hoping for a second opinion).

She waggles her fingers, generating a sound from outside the exterior walls or window that might plausibly account for the cats' agitation, in case anyone hears it and wonders why the felines might be acting up.  Separately, her invisible Mage Hand moves to the fallen cat.

(Treating this as initiative, even though we haven't rolled initiative).

Free Action:  Nivi's invisible Mage Hand, already cast, takes the key from the collar of the unconscious cat.

Movement:  Nivi moves adjacent to one of the bad kitties if she is not already.  (Bonus Action dash using Cunning Action if necessary).

Action:  Nivi casts Minor Illusion:  the sound of a large, aggressive dog barking outside the exterior wall/window of the room (i.e. seemingly from just outside the house), as a plausible explanation in case anyone hears the cats being loud and agitated, and wonders why.  The sound continues for a minute.

Upon noticing the not-soulless watching them, Beren continues forward for a bit considering their options. The man could just be a bystander, curious about the outsiders who were made the focus of the morning's festival, in which case he could potentially be a messenger like Beren was looking for. Or he could be a spy for Wachter. Either way, he decides to turn and face the individual, and then walk over to him... not really trying to be un-intimidating. 

"Who do you favor, Wachter, or the Burgomaster?" He asks abruptly, cutting straight to the point for time's sake. "Depending on your answer, I may have a favor to ask. It could involve payment." He doesn't feel the need to wave coins in this person's face, trusting that the fact he was proclaimed Avatar of the Sun, and is an outsider, that the man would assume he has money. 

Jack immediately flinches at the sound of hissing, and immediately scurried further under the door and into the storage room. His mind all the while racing with thoughts of the feral woman having woven some primal magic to escape! But it wasn't quite /her/ he heard, but... 'Oohh~ Well that's not good. Seems I might've erred a touch leaving dear Nivi to her own devices. Best I-' ArachnoJack's thoughts trail off there as he scurries back out onto the hall, and makes his way to the ceiling of it while hurrying as much as he could to Nivi's last known location to him.

Yet even a short distance walk for a humanoid might as well be miles for a flightless arachnid! Perhaps then the better choice would be to finally toss aside all pretenses in returning to an elven form, and then make ready to deal with the potential -- nay, the some increasingly inevitable investigations of the 'help' below or elsewhere in the house. Another thought for the transformed eladrin entertains, only to be dismissed barely a moment later. Things were fine until they were not. The door was still closed, so some of the noise had to be muffled enough. And... and did he hear dog barking outside(ie. Minor Illusion from Nivi's last post)? Or was his auditory sensors playing tricks on him? None of the questions can find firm purchases before his thoughts drift again to complete his most immediate task: Reach Nivi.

And so he would continue rushing rushing along the ceiling before eventually reaching the double doors, creep his way down until he found another seam(gap, etc) between door and frame to slip into the room, and then during the chaos take a risk trying to return to his perch in Nivi's hair.

(Sorry for the bit of vagueness in the writing above. But with 20ft of movement (40 with dashing) in spider form, and uncertainty with the distance between rooms and all that, I did what I could. ^ ^;)

The man notices Beren coming up, or rather had already noticed. Though that could be because he was watching them, or the fact that Beren was a very bright candle in a foggy dim world was not easily garnered. Though Beren greets him quite unusually, the man doesn't seem to flinch. That depends on .. a lot. And quite the loaded question to walk up to a stranger with. he seems to meet Berens eyes as if judging something. The man seemed to be a bit skeevy, but not dumb by any measure. Crossing his arms he considered for what would likely be an awkward time for even Beren before he spoke again. Cause to answer that is to pick a side, and picking the wrong side could get me skewered.. but seeing as I got cheated by one of the sides... I tell you what... tell me what you want, and I'll consider it if the reason is good enough. Afterall you look well armed enough to take me out, while I can't say the same for me against you.

With Jack, exploring the southern door now, finds a storage room, filled with blankets, linens, and other similar accoutrements, as well as a large, ironbound chest before suddenly deciding Nivi might just be in peril.

Nivi's hand easily slips the key from the collar, it only held on enough to keep it from falling due to simple movements. Outside, the sound she intended echoes, though muffled through the walls. The conscious cats ears perk up, turning first towards the noises direction, but only seeing the room, they now scan about like meerkats.. but seeing no source.. each of them shuffles quickly, knocking several things over in the process, one even slipping breifly as they found nooks to hide in. Mrowling low as cats do when cornered, or feeling trapped and stressed though they were now all hidden to differing degrees. And following one of the cats, Nivi towers over it easily. Nivi might wonder why the cats, seeing Karl would act thus with him around but cats also had other senses they used to detect 'their human.' as it were.

(if your goal was an opportunity attack, you can make one)


Jack can just barely make it to the doorframe before running out of fumes.

Nivi's non-lethal Reaction opportunity attack with the pommel of her dagger on closest cat as it moves away, trying to knock it unconscious.
To hit:  18
Damage 8 (non-lethal)

Using her Passive Perception of 17, unless all of the cats' Stealth beat that score, Nivi moves on her turn to the next two cats she can perceive and does the same, making non-lethal attacks with dagger pommels from each hand, again trying to knock them unconscious.

Action:  Dagger pommel to hit:  24, Damage:  7 non-lethal on next visible cat.
Bonus Action:  Off-hand dagger pommel to hit:  12, Damage:  2 non-lethal on next visible cat after that. 

Not knowing where Arachno-Jack is, she pitches her voice to carry just 15-20' or so, still somewhat attempting to imitate a male youth (Karl), but quietly.

"Shorty, you there?  Think there might be something in this room somewhere.  Not sure.  Found a key.  Just hard to get a good look with these hell-kittens yowling.  Not Imps, at least.  If I can take them out, you can get in here and gimme a second opinion, yeah?"

Seemingly 30' outside, the dog continues to bark.  (Minor Illusion, lasting a minute, no concentration).

Beren pauses, glancing at Olamoira as he realizes this might take longer than he'd initially thought. Sighing, he crosses his arms, "I... apologize for the loaded question. I am in a hurry and am looking for someone to carry a message. However I learned recently that spies have been following my companions and I, so I do not wish to share this message with someone who may be a spy." He pauses, glancing towards Watcher's manor before continuing, "I have learned that one of the individuals I mentioned intends to take the other's life. That is the message I want to deliver. Though I do not personally care much for either individual, I do not wish for such a murder to be carried out, if only because of where the order came from."  He lowers his chin, waiting to see what the man's response will be instead of continuing. He has no intention of giving up whose side he's apparently on, just in case this is a spy even though his cover is likely already blown if that is the case. 

Insight (trying to gauge reactions to his own words, and honesty or an ulterior motive in the response): 21

Even should Jack fail to quite hear/understand the full extent of Nivi's plea it would change not his next course of actions. For after taking a moment to fill his wee little equivalent of lungs, Arachno-Jack hurried along in squeeze between the door frame with confidence of whatever chaos inside being the perfect cover. But once inside, well...

'Oh. My. Goodess... This is quite the -- how do the fisherman phrase it? A fine kettle of fish? Hoi~ But now is not the time for idle amusements old Jack. So let's see if we...' Jack's thoughts trail off from there as he crawls out into the open, only to turn into a rapidly growing expanse of autumnal leaves that swirl and dance upon an unnatural wind. But as the wind settles down and the leaves magically burn away the Eladrin can be seen already in the process of drawing a wand from his person with thoughtless grace and holding the tip against his throat.

Then with the single utterance of a word of power that sounded both soft yet firm and clear, much of the yowling would come to a halt as the subtle magic swept through the room and compelled the weakest of souls to fall into a slumber. Only after the work appeared done would he turn to Nivi with an apologetic smile and say, "Apologies, but I thought time may be far more of the essence than originally given credit. If you found something my dear, than best make whatever use you can. I need a moment to recover, but I will assist shortly."

OOC: Casted Sleep, creating an effective pool of 31. As a note, he'll center the spell closer to the center of the room to try and effect as many cats as possible. 

Three more innocent cats fall to the callous pommel strikes of the evil elf! leaving two more within the room. They hiss now that Nivi has made herself a more visible and obvious threat than the barking from outside. But they're also cornered... with nowhere really to go. The cats hadn't truly stealthed, they had just tried to make themselves smaller and since Nivi was within the room when it happened.. she could see where they went.

One of the cats lashes out at Nivi, claws bared when she nears... (Attack: 11 Damage: 1 ) the other two cats spread about 15 feet apart from each-other. The other cat seems spring loaded, as it Dodges where it's at.

With Beren.. He can see the man gauging him as well, watching Berens every move as if expecting Beren might strike him out of nowhere, but there isn't really fear.. more like the caution of a warrior watching another though this man himself was no warrior. Beren starts to get a read on the mans intentions before he even speaks. He seems.. tense, frustrated. Like he'd be willing to betray his master for a recent, but heavy slight after all his hard work.  I see. Plenty of murder to go around, it is. Part of me wonders if it matters if there's one more, but another part of me doesn't want to die or have others die... I'm not on Luvash's side, nor would I want to incur Wachters wrath... but ... Beren could tell, this man wanted to betray Wachter.. but he knew if it failed... Beren knew this man was one of the spies sent after him now, but he was having a.. change of heart. 

The man likely knew her secrets, atleast those she deigned to share with him... So... who is this message.. for? Luvash himself? he asked tenatively, but not cowardly. he seemed suddenly more willing.

Just after Nivi was attacked.. Jack appeared in the room, and laid waste to the kittens waking hours as they passed into a deep sleep with ease. Their mewling and crying ceasing. Leaving the pair to investigate the room, however.. Nivi or Jack would likely know that Wachter would eventually notice her imp had not returned... and would start looking for the reason why.. soon.