Sorry I should explain something here before you answer that question. You haven’t laid claim to this building yet. In The Riddle, might makes right, and you need to set up in a spot and defend it from others before it’s considered ‘yours’.
For now, leaving him tied and gagged here might be best."
Xanrym sounds unconvinced as he says, "I don't know whether Irennaste needs to be gagged. I think that I can convince him that his best option is to remain quiet and undetected while we're gone. If some other faction, like those Spider Hunters, were to find him bound and alone here in The Riddle, they would just kill him."
Thinking of that possibility, another thought occurs to him. What had he read about the protocol with taking and ransoming prisoners between "honorable" kingdoms at war? Something about how the winning side was responsible for the safety of the prisoners until they were ransomed. Xanrym continues, "And maybe we shouldn't leave him here completely defenseless. If we're not here, what's to stop burglars from breaking in and murdering him? He cannot fulfill his end of this 'deal' if he's dead. We could tie him up but leave a knife or dagger somewhere in the house. It'll take him some time to find it and cut himself free, and that should give us enough of a 'head start', right? Once he has cut himself free, he could wait here for us to return or decide to sneak out of The Riddle. Either way, at least he'll have a weapon if he needs to defend himself."
Khessa reflects on Xanrym's scruples and, sighing, pats him on the shoulder: "I don't like giving Irennaste the chance to change his mind and notify his house... I'd really rather take the risk of keeping him here. But you're a good man, and you're right—this way, he'd be at greater risk of being killed. And while I think Irennaste is a b4st4rd who won't treat us with special gratitude, I still recognize that you have a point. It's fine with me to do as you say."
(OOC: I think that we're basically agreed that we're done with Irennaste for now and can proceed to Es Sarch's job. Assuming that everyone is ready, and we don't run into difficulties between The Riddle and The Tannery on Matron Road...)
Someone can tie Irennaste's hands behind his back while Xanrym or Coriana explains that The Company needs to go meet their contacts to pass along his information, and they can suggest why shouting for help while he's tied up and alone in The Riddle is a Very Bad Idea.
While they're talking to Irennaste, Theldrin or Syllen could put his gear and weapons (if he carried any) upstairs. If there was no blade among the Drow's gear, Xanrym will donate a dagger. (I assume that it becomes visible as soon as he lets go of it.) They can tell Irennaste that they left his weapons / gear / a dagger upstairs for him. He is welcome to wait for The Company until they return, but he should probably at least free himself in the meantime in case any burglars decide to break in while they're gone. By the time Irennaste decides that it's not a bluff and manages to stand up, find his gear, get out a dagger, and cut his rope, The Company will hopefully already be through the secret door and most of the way to Elessarwa's torture chamber.
Es Sarch said that the secret door was inside the tannery on Matron Road. Once The Company finds the building, Xanrym can sneak inside if it's not an active business. It's possible that someone (or some thing) has taken up residence in the tannery. He is still maintaining his Invisibility, which will last up to 1 hour from the time they first saw Irennaste put the note inside The Guild's mailbox. I think that they can make it to the Tannery before then.
Stealth: 20 (advantage from Cloak of Elvenkind) - Sneaking into the Tannery... Perception: 7 - ...to look for any signs of a current occupant or other dangers.
You all make your way to the tannery near the estate of Noble's Bluff. On your way, you encounter an incredibly strange sight. Shambling down the street are three decrepit drow, missing eyes and skin hanging off their bones. Other people in the street shrink back into alleys and buildings as these undead creatures move aimlessly along. You hear one goblin whispering to another "Plaguelost! Stay out of their way. They may not be strong, but one scratch from them can pass on the ash doom. The Assassin's Guild will take care of them eventually once they can dispose of the corpses from afar." And the two goblins retreat as well.
Will you all engage the Plaguelost or give them a wide birth.
(OOC: Referencing the map, and assuming that the townhouse was somewhere around P12 or P13 and that the tannery is at P4, where are we when we see these Plaguelost Drow?)
Theldrin acknowledges Khessa's point with a thoughtful nod.
So you going after the drow matriarch now?
Yes, ready to go now.
Sorry I should explain something here before you answer that question. You haven’t laid claim to this building yet. In The Riddle, might makes right, and you need to set up in a spot and defend it from others before it’s considered ‘yours’.
Xanrym sounds unconvinced as he says, "I don't know whether Irennaste needs to be gagged. I think that I can convince him that his best option is to remain quiet and undetected while we're gone. If some other faction, like those Spider Hunters, were to find him bound and alone here in The Riddle, they would just kill him."
Thinking of that possibility, another thought occurs to him. What had he read about the protocol with taking and ransoming prisoners between "honorable" kingdoms at war? Something about how the winning side was responsible for the safety of the prisoners until they were ransomed. Xanrym continues, "And maybe we shouldn't leave him here completely defenseless. If we're not here, what's to stop burglars from breaking in and murdering him? He cannot fulfill his end of this 'deal' if he's dead. We could tie him up but leave a knife or dagger somewhere in the house. It'll take him some time to find it and cut himself free, and that should give us enough of a 'head start', right? Once he has cut himself free, he could wait here for us to return or decide to sneak out of The Riddle. Either way, at least he'll have a weapon if he needs to defend himself."
Khessa reflects on Xanrym's scruples and, sighing, pats him on the shoulder: "I don't like giving Irennaste the chance to change his mind and notify his house... I'd really rather take the risk of keeping him here. But you're a good man, and you're right—this way, he'd be at greater risk of being killed. And while I think Irennaste is a b4st4rd who won't treat us with special gratitude, I still recognize that you have a point. It's fine with me to do as you say."
(OOC: I think that we're basically agreed that we're done with Irennaste for now and can proceed to Es Sarch's job. Assuming that everyone is ready, and we don't run into difficulties between The Riddle and The Tannery on Matron Road...)
Someone can tie Irennaste's hands behind his back while Xanrym or Coriana explains that The Company needs to go meet their contacts to pass along his information, and they can suggest why shouting for help while he's tied up and alone in The Riddle is a Very Bad Idea.
While they're talking to Irennaste, Theldrin or Syllen could put his gear and weapons (if he carried any) upstairs. If there was no blade among the Drow's gear, Xanrym will donate a dagger. (I assume that it becomes visible as soon as he lets go of it.) They can tell Irennaste that they left his weapons / gear / a dagger upstairs for him. He is welcome to wait for The Company until they return, but he should probably at least free himself in the meantime in case any burglars decide to break in while they're gone. By the time Irennaste decides that it's not a bluff and manages to stand up, find his gear, get out a dagger, and cut his rope, The Company will hopefully already be through the secret door and most of the way to Elessarwa's torture chamber.
Es Sarch said that the secret door was inside the tannery on Matron Road. Once The Company finds the building, Xanrym can sneak inside if it's not an active business. It's possible that someone (or some thing) has taken up residence in the tannery. He is still maintaining his Invisibility, which will last up to 1 hour from the time they first saw Irennaste put the note inside The Guild's mailbox. I think that they can make it to the Tannery before then.
Concentration: Invisibility
Stealth: 20 (advantage from Cloak of Elvenkind) - Sneaking into the Tannery...
Perception: 7 - ...to look for any signs of a current occupant or other dangers.
You all make your way to the tannery near the estate of Noble's Bluff. On your way, you encounter an incredibly strange sight. Shambling down the street are three decrepit drow, missing eyes and skin hanging off their bones. Other people in the street shrink back into alleys and buildings as these undead creatures move aimlessly along. You hear one goblin whispering to another "Plaguelost! Stay out of their way. They may not be strong, but one scratch from them can pass on the ash doom. The Assassin's Guild will take care of them eventually once they can dispose of the corpses from afar." And the two goblins retreat as well.
Will you all engage the Plaguelost or give them a wide birth.
(OOC: Referencing the map, and assuming that the townhouse was somewhere around P12 or P13 and that the tannery is at P4, where are we when we see these Plaguelost Drow?)
You're close to P4
Theldrin would opt for not getting too close to them.