Quote from Guiltysparc >>

OoC - The far east, like where Isk is from?  Does Isk know about spices from his home land?  

(Yes, where both Isk and Reverie were born. They would be familiar with some of the customs and goods from the far east.

Think of it like a colonial in the New World. They would know about their home country and any places they visited in Europe/Africa/Asia, but they wouldn't know about every country in the Old World.)

Reverie thinks deeply about this conversation. "The far east..." She looks at Iskander and then the others, then to Murphy. "... That's where I am from, also for Iskander. My goal from the start was to see the other Forestgleam members in this place, but then..." A pause. "... What do you all think of? If I visit the house of my family, could we get more information about this Bane Church?" Then she asks another question: "As for what Miriam and Sallah told us, we have to be very careful until everything settled. Is there a way we could disguise as we go see Morty?"

Trimyrai: (to Reverie) "A lead is a lead. Without a better location to go to we might as well go check it out. If the Iron Gate people are still gathering information for us, there isn't too much we can do in the city until they find something substantial." 

Quote from Elliethedream >>

Then she asks another question: "Is there a way we could disguise as we go see Morty?"

Murphy to Reverie: "What did you have in mind? Mort is expecting ruffians to show up tomorrow and take protection money from him. I have to tell him later that the Iron Gate cannot be there... You could disguise yourself as regular customers, but I don't know what he will do if he thinks you are part of the criminal gang going to the shop to intimidate him."

To Trimyrai: "Reporting that your friends have been spotted again, and are expected to arrive at that shop tomorrow, is somewhat substantial."

”I was thinking if there is a way to not revealing who we are to the enemy but to someone who needs our help; however, it seems we have to be there as who we are.” Reverie did not think of what Morty would feel about them after disguise who they are. Then, she nods at Trimyrai. ”I agree with you.” A pause. ”Are you going to be all right when you’d get to face your friends?”

“Meeting old friends and enemies has a way of messing with someone.” Jack chimes in. “Ye have to be ready for it.”

Quote from Elliethedream >>

”I was thinking if there is a way to not revealing who we are to the enemy but to someone who needs our help; however, it seems we have to be there as who we are.”

"Disguising your identities from others who might be watching, that makes sense. Most of your group is quite distinctive" (looks at the dragonborn, the aasimar, and the tiefling) "but we can cover all of you up with large cloaks, and old rags across your faces. That can be arranged... If we add a distinctive marker to your outfit, like a particular flower on the collar or common stone on a necklace, then I can tell Mort that people wearing that tomorrow are there to help him."

(OOC: I'm not trying to push your party into disguise, but it will be dramatic if Trimyrai's villagers ask who you are, and then Trim uncovers his face. Thanks to Reverie for mentioning the idea.)

"I can disguise myself," Froskan says (He has Alter Self), "But it won't work for the rest of you."

Trimyrai: (to the party) "I'm not happy about the situation, and i should have prepared myself for something like this. I am still glad that at least people are alive. Do not worry, i will do the right thing regardless of who we are against. If the church has messed these guys up maybe they can be saved. If they decided to do these bad things willingly, then they are just another enemy." Trimyrai pauses... "As for the disguise thing. No disguise would be useful for me unless it covers up that i'm a tiefling. How many tieflings are out there? I haven't encountered any other tieflings in my few adventures."

Isk digs through his pack and fishes out his old military insignia patch.  He holds it out for Murphy to see, "It's unlikely anyone so far from my home will recognize this, so it would make a good looky-loo for Mortimer."

"We can disguise ourselves as regular customers, Rev and I can inquire about spices from our home, and I'll wear the patches on my clothing as a signal.  Murphy, would you be able to get a description of it to Mortimer?"

The patch shows black wings on a field of deep crimson, with a golden, spiked halo between them.

(For Trimyrai: When I was thinking about large cloaks and old rags, the image was desert-style wraps and covered faces, so very little would be exposed. Enough that a bystander wouldn't see that he was a tiefling. He could be like Darth Maul before he pulled his hood back, although his robe would be tattered and dirty.

It sounds like everyone is covered up in rags to hide the fact that you have good adventuring equipment. And that Reverie and Iskander will be talking to Mort in the shop. Murphy will tell Mort later that some people will arrive to guard him tomorrow (although not Iron Gate). One of them will wear a particular badge (Isk), but the others will not reveal themselves.

What about the rest of the group? You could be hiding inside the building in a room adjacent to the main area, pretending to be browsing as customers in the main area, stand next to Isk & Rev, hide somewhere outside the shop & enter after the gang does, or something else that you suggest )

Froskan will browse the main area as a customer

(And where do Jack and Trimyrai want to be at that time?)

Trimyrai will hide somewhere outside the shop. (OOC: Trimyrai would be best for watching and taking down anyone who tries to run away if such a thing comes up.)

(Unless there is another suggestion, I think Jack would be outside with Trimyrai, so that no one in the party is isolated. They will be around the corner of a nearby house, within 20' of the shop, watching the street and the front entrance of the shop.

Murphy finishes his lunch, and leaves to meet with Mort.

Is there anything that you want to do for the rest of the day? For tomorrow morning, are there any preparations, magical or mundane, you'd like to do before arriving at the shop positions you chose?)

(Jack with Trim sounds alright)

(OOC: if there is enough time Trimyrai would probably buy some arrows. and maybe purchase a melee weapon of some sort.)

Quote from EmperorKarino >>

(OOC: if there is enough time Trimyrai would probably buy some arrows. and maybe purchase a melee weapon of some sort.)

(You have the entire afternoon after lunch, so he can do that. Standard prices from the PHB.)

Trimyrai does some shopping in preparation for the activities of the day. He purchases a Rapier and 20 arrows. (OOC: costing 26 gp)

You rise early the next morning and have a hearty breakfast. (Who knows how long you will be waiting at that shop.) There is a covering of snow on the ground. Fortunately for Trim and Jack (who are planning to watch from outdoors), it is only moderately cold, without much of a wind. (Froskan makes a light joke that it is a bit balmy for his tastes.)

You head west, past the people entering the city from the North Gate.

You continue west, to the region that is mostly the blacksmiths, tanners, and butchers. The air becomes harder to breathe (smoke, chemicals, and blood), and you are reminded of why they are concentrated in the corner of the city... For a moment, Jack eyes the blacksmiths, and starts mumbling about bear traps, but the rest of you remind him you are on a mission. With reluctance, Jack continues walking.

When the western wall is within a stone's throw, you head south, to the area everyone refers to as the slums. The buildings become fewer, and more haphazardly built. The streets transition from paved stones to smoothed dirt. Not many people are walking about. You've been told that the land owners occasionally hire guards to clear out the poor from this area, but it doesn't happen often. The lands are unused, and the city is far too large in size for its population.

Eventually, you arrive at Mortimer's shop. At 50' x 60', it stands out from the ramshackle houses around it, which are only 10' or 15' in size. The shop has double doors on the south side. You walk around an abandoned wagon (broken wheel). Jack and Trimyai continue to the southwest, while the others enter. There is a snow-free patch of ground between a tree and a house, where they can watch the shop while being concealed from those walking by.

Inside the shop, Mort is in the SW corner, behind a rounded counter, with two (locked) display cases nearby. There is a stairwell downstairs in the NW corner. Along the north wall are another set of double doors, used for carrying goods from the outside into the shop, but they are closed and barred. There are shelves scattered about the store, none higher than 4' in height. The only other occupants in the store are a pair of peasants on the east side. They are browsing at some of the items, but you notice they are staying close to the roaring fireplace on the east wall.

Mortimer looks a bit concerned about 3 cloaked/disguised figures walking in a confident manner into his shop, but he relaxes (slightly) when he sees Iskander's insignia pinned to the outside of his cloak... Mortimer is a middle-aged human, unathletic, and too fleshy for this neighborhood. (Similar to Sydney Greenstreet in the "Maltese Falcon": image link .)

Froskan heads to the NE corner, pretending to look at the merchandise, while positioning himself to keep an eye on the entire area. Iskander and Reverie walk to the SW corner, near Mort's counter.