"So far we've spoken to the divination wizard. She told us that the lieutenant is a frequent patron of the Sinful Blossom. Spends a lot of time with a half-elven woman. Also, Ada believed that he's writing down whatever he's finding out. But what's wrong with Elein, outside of the fact that your soldiers here want to get inside of her pants. I figure that if we're going to speak with her, we should know who we're dealing with."

"I beg to differ!" Mirth cut in, before Caress has a chance to answer. "One soldier wants to get inside her pants. Others know those are locked tighter than a royal treasury. Or, like myself, have other pants to get into."

"Mirth, please, for the love of all the gods and goddesses, shut your damn trap!" Caress snaps. "Apologies. Pay Mirths chatter no mind. Speak with Elein if you can stomach endless preaching, but I doubt she'll tell you anything new. In the meantime, we've been working on a plan to figure out more. Interested in hearing it?"

"Sure."

"Yeah, please tell us. Maybe together we can refine a plan."

Okay, this is startting to get weird, I'm taking over Pict for as long as Joinmybones is MIA.

"From what we've been able to uncover, the guards goal is to compromise us and force us out of business, possibly - the city. In order to not let that happen, we need to figure out what they know. There are two viable options - Captain Lue, whose been behind the entire thing as far as we know and lt. Jarvey. The prior is out of the question for now, I'm sure I don't need to explain why. As for the latter... Jarvey won't be bribed, he's scared of his Captain too much, and too arrogant to be intimidated, so Sorrow here came up with the idea."

"Well, it was actually it was Hanker, I just translated," said Sorrow shyly.

"Inconsequential. The idea is to break into Jarveys office and see if there's anything there that could point us to why he's doing all this. The thing is, we need someone from the outside to do this, just in case we get caught so there's a chance to explain that this was a member gone rogue rather than entire band. Now with you here, this becomes possible. We have an infiltration specialist who could get you in and out, theoretically."

"Gh-m," Mirth coughed. "Who could get one of you in, she means. I'm hardly a tour guide. Meanwhile, the other could distract lieutenant and make sure he doesn't come back. Sounds good?"

"It does sound like a good plan and I'm not unwilling to try it. However, I'd like to speak with some of the other mages in town first, as well as the half-elven woman at the Blossom that Jarvey visits. Would your plan be able to wait a little while longer?"

"Yes, it would, but why wait? Mirth said he could only get one of you in. There are three of you. One could talk to the magi, one - break into Jarveys office and the third one could go to the Blossom. And if they find lieutenant there, which is more than likely, I think they could keep him distracted for a little while longer than he originally intended." Caresses ability to plan and assign roles was rather impressive, all three of you had to admit.

"I could break into Jarvey's office. I think that Violet should be the one to go to the Blossom, since she's the best talker and would be able to keep the Lieutenant occupied if he happens to be there. Which I suppose means that Pict will be the one to speak to the magi."

If Callindra has no objections, I think this is the plan.

It will require change in posting mechanics. I will write paragraphs relating to each of you, separated by

---

this line. I'm yet to decide if Pict, while absent, will be talking to people on or off the screen, so to speak. We start tomorrow.

"Sounds like a good plan. Good luck Crassus. I'll see what I can get out of Blossom."

"Very well, let's get on it, then. Mirth, you're up. Hanker, Sorrow, and me will be near the guards quarters in case the shit goes sour. Hubris, stay here, maybe someone comes looking for us. Fury, go to our headquarters, bring me the new axe and all the potions you can carry. Horns up!"

People got up and left the table as Caress was speaking. Crassus did not have anything to add, so he followed Mirth silently for the time being.

"So look," Mirth finally broke the silence. "I've been thinking and decided it's best to try and get in now, at the end of a workday rather than at night. Everybody but essential personnel has left or is leaving, but the building is not closed and patrolled quite as carefully. We pretend to have business in there and get past the front desk, find the office, cause a distraction in case anyone is looking and get in. I don't suggest saying we're here to see lt. Jarvey, though. I can take care of all the locks, and help you with getting around unnoticed should the need arise. I also can pick most pockets. You know, the thievery kind of stuff, but you'll have to do most of the talking. People don't trust tieflings much, you see. Oh, and before we get in, we should find Caress or Hanker or Sorrow, they said they will be around there somewhere and leave your weapons to them. The will ask to relinquish them as we go in anyway, and I'm not sure we'll be getting out the same route."

As Mirth was disclosing the plan, the pair of you arrived in the port, in from of a huge stone building. Sorrow was indeed nearby. You give him your weapons and receive Dagger +3 instead. It will be easier to sneak in and won't draw as much attention. It works. You and Mirth are able to get into the hall, where and old wrinkled elf sits at the front desk. Gods, you never saw a wrinkled elf. She must have been sitting there since before the city was around.

"It's the end of the day, most offices are closed," she said. "But state your business and I'll see what I can do."

Violet sighed, watching Crassus leave with the tiefling and headed towards the exit. Ada's words wouldn't leave her mind. "You are no wizard...", "Another kind of power? The one that is borrowed?" what does it mean? Borrowed from who? And how? Sorceress almost lost her way a couple of times, but thankfully, the voices were there to guide her. And these voices... Violet was never sure whey they were coming from. In light of what the prophet said, are they the result of this "pact"? Do they come from the book? The one that according to her words will be Violets death? She tried not to think about it for now.

Finally, Violet has arrived at "Sinful Blossom". Passed already familiar guards and almost bumped into Madame Velour.

"Hello again, dear," Velvet greeted her. "Dumped your men and came back? Smart move. For Ander, no doubt. I really ought to pay him more. I'm afraid he's with a client right now, so you might need to wait."

Before Crassus heads off, can he get the Hat of Disguise from Violet?

 "No, I'm waiting for the right man to show up. I'm more interested in a woman you employ named Idunna." Violet is visibly nervous and not at ease.

Before Crassus heads off, he'll use the hat to make himself look like a chromatic Dragonborn instead of his regular bronze self.

"Evening. My colleague and I are here to perform a surprise inspection, see if anyone is storing any contraband in here. We shouldn't take too long."

Deception: 10

The elf squint her eyes.

"Don't try to fool me, young man. Inspections without warning has been banned for half a decade due to corruption in those who performed them. I may be old, but not senile!"

"Listen, buddy, she doesn't seem to believe you," Mirth pulls you aside. "You'd better come up with something else, before the old ***** starts a ruckus. And it'd be best if the new lie also explained the need for the previous one."

"Idunna? She should be in the booth on the left side of Common Hall. Better make it quick, though, she's waiting on important client."

The woman is indeed where Velvet said she would be. She arches her brow as Violet approaches.

"May I help you?"

"Okay, so the real reason we're here is because my dumbass brother left his wedding ring here and needs me to get it back so that he can come home without his wife noticing that it's gone so that she doesn't throw a fit. It's kind of a sore spot for him, so that's why I concocted the story about the surprise inspection."

Deception: 4

Ouch...

Before you have a chance to finish your sentence, Mirth pulls you aside.

"Are you ******* kidding me?" He hisses, unexpectedly aggressive all of a sudden. "You won't fool a child lying like that! Get out of sight, use your new hat, change a disguise completely and try again. I'll watch from here and if you succeed, find my own way in. If not, I'll think of something."

He turned to the elf.

"Sorry to waste your time, ma'am!" He shouted at her, before dragging you out of the hall.

Crassus will leave the building, walk into an alleyway, and disguise himself as a large human who looks like he just finished working at the blacksmith. Then he'll return to the building.

"Good Evening. One of the soldiers stationed here asked me to craft this dagger for him. If you could simply let me through I could deliver it to him, or leave it at a place for deliveries."

Deception:14

"Very well," the old elf answers and nods to a guard to open a large wooden door. "But don't tarry."

You slip in, careful not to accidentally touch anyone with your invisible tail. Once on the other side of the door, you realize that you've no idea where to next. Thankfully, it only takes a few uncertain steps before Mirth appears out of side corridor.

"Hey! Found an unlocked window," he explained. "Getting in myself is far easier than getting you in, clumsy. Any idea where next?"

Perception or Investigation check (only one, Mirth will do another if you fail). DC 12.

You were let in, the tiefling wasn't. Don't let anyone see him.

Callindra, you can play at the same time.

 "Hello, I hope I don't disturb you. You see there is a guy I know and he's kind of cute." Violet pauses for a second. "But he also knows a little bit of magic. harmless stuff some sound and images or lighting a fire from afar." Violet pauses again as if thinking on how to address a delicate manner. "Well he has heard rumours that a client of yours has been investigating after magic users and I want to know if he might be in trouble. Could you help me please, we can keep it a secret."

Deception: 5