Tyranny in Phlan (DM Lerus)

Neya approaches Euripanee and Aya, "What are your plans from here on out?"

Doozey found himself looking briefly away and blushing a bit too. But just as soon as Villonah continued, his gaze met hers, and soon everything else became background noise. A touch of surprise initially lit up his face, as he had half-expected an "Of course!" or maybe an "You kidding me? Yeah, I'm staying!" Yet the longer she spoke, the more it became clear how far she'd come...

Even so, Doozey felt a smile bloom hearing her heart's desire, and almost immediately began to answer. His lips scarcely part before memories of the fight before began flooding back in his mind, giving him pause. He promptly changed tactics by trying to take her hands in his and say: "I... It prolly goes without saying, but there's few people in this world that I wouldn't love to fight the good fight alongsides." Biscuit chimes in with a "Boof", earning a smirk from the halfling.

"Yea, that includes you too brother." The mastiff happily "Boof'd" again, eliciting a sigh from Doozey. "And yer right. It's prolly the smarter thing to have you get on that ship and outta here, as this fight and many others like it promises to continue long after this day. And truth be told, I've... I've... I've lost a lotta people in my life, and I'm afraid to you lose you too." He confesses with tears beginning to brim the corner of his eyes. But then, he gently scoffs and even chuckles a little. "But, I ain't one to be ruled by fear anymore, so I hope that sword arm of yours is ready. 'cause there's a lotta work for us to do."

Villonah's eyes begin to produce tears as well, but her smile proves that those are happy tears. She seems ready to unsheathe her sword and join any fight alongside Doozey, but not right now... In this instant, her hands are in the halfling's, and she doesn't seem to want the moment to end.

Imizael nods silently at Utar. She is crying too, but for quite different reasons. She smiles a smile of understanding and agreement to Utar's sentiment. With a simple but heartfelt "Thank you," she begins to make her way onto the GIlded Treasure, ready to find a new path in life and take the memory of Mar with her.

Answering both Utar and Neya, Aya admits: "Part of me wants to stay here and make sure more people find their way into safety, especially that irresistible tiefling acquaintance of ours." She winks at the party. "But these people on the boat, as well as any others who manage to escape, will have a difficult path ahead of them as refugees. They will need guidance, and an odd spell here and there, so I'll do what I must and escape with them." She then turns to Utar more specifically and adds: "Just make sure that rascal makes it out of here alive, would you?"

Euripanee laughs at the elf's plea (Aya, that is), and adds her piece: "I am sure my swinging arm would be of use here, but you are right about these folks needing support for the foreseeable future." Turning to Neya, she elaborates: "I'll see if I can convince the captain of the ship to make port in Mulmaster. It's a big city. It should be able to take us all in, and it shouldn't be too hard to find work there."

With that, the three departing ladies begin to say their final goodbyes and move onto the ship. Before doing so, Aya pulls Villonah aside and shares a few words. Villonah wishes her a safe trip and waves her goodbye.

-> Those of you with a passive perception score of 13 or higher would notice Aya passing a note to Villonah before boarding. 

(OOC: Pausing here for any potential RPing you'd like to do as you wish them farewell.)

Raist stands quietly off to the side.as he watches the conversations. 

But if anyone looks closely he seems to have.a blank look and is carefully not moving.

(He is looking through Sebastions eyes as the familiar patrols overhead)

Perception: 12

Utar reassures Aya, "I'll keep an eye on him for you.  I'll get him out safely."

Even as Doozey made the confession, a different worry yet gnawed at his heart. But he never flinched or faltered in the moment, but rather continued to meet Villonah's gaze... and was thankful that he had done so. For in them he saw the fiery spirit that drew him to her, among other reasons, and even now bolstered his own, banishing any remnants of worry and fear. And the moment was one he too didn't want to end.

... But, between a soft but warning noise from Biscuit and the vague notion of the other conversations going around seeming to be wrapping up, the halfling faintly sighed and broke apart in anticipation of Villonah stepping up for any other final goodbyes with the rest. In the meantime, Doozey would busy himself strapping his buckler into place, and head over to Raist to make sure man was ready to get going as well. But even with him noting the subtle exchange between Aya and Villonah, even Doozey had enough tact not to even consider even consider asking about it later. Rather, if it was something to share, he trusted her to do so later.

@Raist: From your bird's eye view, you can see enemy patrols moving up and down the city streets. They don't seem particularly concerned with coming to the docks. Based on that, and what you see around you, you deduce that they had already cleared out this area and are probably considering it to be "under control," which would leave little need to come check on it with any urgency. That said, you can't be sure about how long this relative safety may last. If this is their turf, sooner or later they will come back to roost.

@Utar: Aya nods and shares a coy smile with you, before moving on to share a word with Villonah (as described in my previous post) and then moving onto the Gilded Trophy.

@Doozey: Villonah touches a curl in our hair tenderly, smiles and then separates when Aya comes to pull her aside. 

As the final farewell wishes are shared among the group, in the distance, the 9th bell tolls. Dornal announces that the ship is ready and resupplied with whatever they could scavenge from the Vigilant. His sailors, both old and new, use oars to push the ship away from the dock and then to help the ship glide away somewhat quietly into deeper waters. "We'll see them again," Villonah says in a comforting way, even though there may be some tinge of doubt in her voice.

"Speaking of seeing folk again," she continues, "I believe the next item in our plan is to go to the residential area and make sure we collect a certain kobold majordomo. Shall we get going or do we need a little breather still?"

With the rescued townsfolk now on the ships, Utar looks to the rest of CRAP.  "I could do with a breather, but I think our watchword right now has to be speed.  If we're lucky we can we well away from the docks before they know we've ever been here, and when this place is swarming with our enemies, we might be better able to sneak through the city unimpeded."

Shaking himself back to self

"The patrols<> seem to be working themselves towards the walls<><>and away from here<>at the moment<>(a little louder) YOU SHOULD BE ABLR<><>TO CAST OFF AND SAIL" <><> 

"Boow Wong!" Biscuit barked while waving goodbye to Dornal and the townsfolk. He might've howled as well under better circumstances, but even he had enough sense not to draw further attention to the docks. 

"...We will." Doozey said, if but to help dispel the touch of doubt he heard in Villionah's voice. "We'll see'm. But first, it's like you said. Unfortunately, Utar has the right of it as well. Much as I wouldn't mind a short breather as well, and maybe stop at a certain dragonboness' shop while we're in the area. But, there's simply no time for either. Not yet. First, we see to Sagin and collect what we can of our things, and then it's straight to our friendly, neighborhood not-a-thiefling." Doozey snorts, then looked up to the others with a solemn expression. "Least that's what I'd like to say, but all things considered, I don't think there's a path that'll get us to him from here without going through those very same patrols is there?"

As Raist shares his discovery (especially the louder bit) Dornal gives the command to his sailors to let down the sails. The ship begins to pick up speed, and off they go!

Villonah listens to Utar and then Doozey, asking a clarifying questing when given a chance: "After collecting Sagin, I thought we had agreed to meet Aleyd again at the Laughing Goblin before heading deeper into the city, no?" 

The gnome then offers a potion of healing to anyone in need of a pick-me-up, since the group is leaning towards no rest at this time.

(OOC: Let me know when you are ready to start moving toward the residential area.)

Utar nods along to Villonah, "We need to get back the Goblin by 10th bell to meet Aleyd. She might have another rescue mission in mind, hopefully she's been able to find some additional help before we meet at the Crown by 12th."

"That's... That's... True." Doozey sighs, rubs his head, and sags his shoulders in defeat. "Maybe I aughta take that potion." He mutters sardonically under breath. Then with a bit of huff, the halfling straightens back out again and says, "Well, either way we best get going then if we're to beat the guards past the gate to the Resi district, least we get bogged down try'n. Unless..." The halfling looks to the resident elf of the group with a hopeful glint in his eyes. "You might have some magic that'll get us there faster without the hassle?" 

"Spell wise<><>not that<>can take all of us at once<><> I have a means to go by water<><> but its just a boat"

"We could also go by way of the sewer passageways we've talked about before clearing the port."

As Villonah, Utar, and Doozey remember and agree on the overarching plan, Neya and Raist focus on the question of reaching Sagin. Will CRAP move by their best known path and reach their HQ by simply walking there? Will they instead take to the water for part of the way before geography forces them onto land for the last push? Or will they seek the relative unknown of the sewer system and emerge near their destination?

"I'm not sure any of us know the sewers that well to be able to guarantee us a quicker route, besides, I would rather not draw attention to them if we're relying on them later to make good our escape.  And the boat is a nice idea, but not if we've got to make mulitple trips.  I think that means we're heading over land, but I do wonder if we could daub some green markings on ourselves, pretend to be members of the Tears of Virulence, might buy us some time and sow some confusion."

"While I agree with ya there on the sewer bit Utar, what yer suggesting is more like to get us noticed then a short boat trip." Doozey contest. "I trust Raist's report." He said before giving the aforementioned elf a supporting nod. "And seeing as they've got their focus more on pushing outward, it also means points like the gates -- which we will have to pass through -- will be hot spots for trouble."

"And, I hate to break it to you further, my friend, but we're crap at duplicity, and we can't afford to be getting caught out try'n, let alone waste time look'n fer enough green paint or guck to splash on our clothes in the hopes it'll be enough." He further claims. "Now, if we need try something like that just get back to the goblin, then by all means. But fer now, the boat is our best and swiftest option to get to Sagin, resupply, and maybe -- maybe even get ahold of some more allies without getting mistaken and attacked on site." Doozey persists, but then looked to the others, hopeful that they could se reasoning in his words. If, however, the others are more incline to try Utar's plan instead, Doozey shoulder's would sag in defeat as he begrudgingly falls in line to support it.

Utar parses through the party's options and voices his preference for "ground transportation". Doozey disagrees, leaning toward a more watery approach. 

How will Neya and Raist vote in this matter?

Neya will agree with the boat idea.