Merrick nods at Livvi's words. 

"Scouting the town seems like a good idea but I would suggest that we make groups of twos at least. I don't want some competition getting the drop on me while I get to know the place. Razen ? Would you mind shadowing me while I walk the streets and get my bearing. I ll play bait and see what happens. Anyone good at slinking in the shadows is welcome. "

Gom, after imparting the info he'd gathered earlier for those better than he at strategy to ponder, will look up at Merrick after hearing him say that and reply "good at slinking ...and ... shadowing."

Con scowls at Merrick's comment about the boy, annoyed with himself.  Shoulda caught the brat when I had the chance.  He had been that kid once, he thinks, remembering his time in a gang of not-very-impressive wannabe teenage criminals.  They hadn't ever done much of note, but they had done this kind of thing - spying for the real gangs, a copper piece to watch a particular door for a day, or follow a girl with a blue dress and see where she went.  Con and his friends never knew more than that, never really did anything at all, but were happy with the coin and the fantasy that they were real gangsters now, dangerous men who should be feared.  Con smiles briefly at the memory, then puts it away.  Well, done is done.    

And later in the conversation:  Groups of two at least, three is better I reckon.  Those three that were watching us, one's already left in a hurry.  Might be nothing.  Might be a lot.  They know this town.  They have eyes on the streets, and we don't.  Best stick together until we find our feet.  He eyes Livvi as he says this,  then resumes chewing a large hunk of pork.

If you guys plan on splitting up I need to know whos in what group, who is taking lead, how you move through the town and where you are looking for or traveling to.

"Mal, why don't you come with Con and me? We'll move through the west side of town. Merrick, you take Gom and Rasen and check out the east side. We'll meet back here in two hours." 

(Because we're new to this town, I envision this as the first chance to check things out as described in my previous post. If you've ever been in a foreign town and walked around to get your bearings and see what you could see - that's kinda like this. From this, I figured we'd know where some interesting points were...right now we don't know much of anything!)

When they go, Livvi will walk between Mal and Con, one slightly ahead and to the left - one slightly behind and to her right.

Merrick nods. 

" Good idea but didn't we have someone to meet ?" 

Rasen shrugs his shoulders and replies to Merrick

"It seems that meeting must wait until we check this I guess..." 

"We have to find them first..." Livvi smiles.

Well, there was this place at the end of the docks, says Con, through mouthfuls of chicken.   He takes a swig of ale to wash it down.  Some abandoned houses, right?  Good place to hide, if you're hiding.  He looks for a moment like he might be about to say more, but instead grabs a large hunk of bread, dips it in the meaty juice on his plate, and stuffs it into his mouth. 

Gom will follow along with either group. Just keeping an eye out for anything he can hear or see. Though specifically will be looking at 3 things: 1. the V he'd seen on the boy. 2. the presence, or absence, of guards, since he'd heard they are often pulled towards the keep. 3. the Crystal diadem and guards or people near it.

PERCEPTION: 22

"I guess that if the guards were still around in numbers they could search that abandoned houses with ease, but you are right, if the rumors are correct, that could be a good spot for hiding" replies Rasen to Con in the two larger sentences they have heard of him since they met.

Con nods at Rasen's comment, chewing his food.  After several seconds of pause in the conversation,  as everyone is eating, he takes another gulp of ale.  Hey, I just go where I'm told.  So what's the plan, we go scouting or find the contact?  he asks the question to everyone, but his eyes linger on Livvi.  Or, and here he looks at Gom, get straight to the fun stuff?

"find the contact...fun stuff" Gom will repeat, nodding.

((wherever we end up, Gom will still use the PERCEPTION roll just above keeping his eyes out for those things))

"We have to scout the town to find the contact - and to find the good stuff. Silly - you act as if you know this place already and can just walk to the right place at the right time to get the right thing and get out. No - it takes knowledge and planning! And you certainly can't just walk up to strangers and say - 'Hi! We're from the Guild and we're here to take over the criminal elements of this town. Give us your valuables. Thanks!' Honestly, I don't know what you're thinking...or even IF you're thinking. Scout the town. Report back in two hours. Don't do anything stupid." With that she hip-checks whoever is seated next to her to get them off the bench. She will start walking towards the door, fully expecting Con and Mal to follow.

(Sorry - time for the byotch to show up! =)

 Merrick looks at the others. 

"Ready when you are... Let's go take a stroll around town" he adds with an hungry smile.

Con stuffs the rest of his food into his mouth, drains his ale mug, stands and leaves the inn, catching up with Livvi after a few strides.  If he has an opinion about her taking charge, he keeps it to himself; walking just behind her, he scans the streets and the faces of the passers-by, looking for signs of trouble or anything else of interest as they walk.

Rasen finish his drink and stands with Merrick

"The sooner we start, the sooner we end..." 

Ok, so splitting into two groups one being Livvi, Con and Mal and the other being Rasen, Gom and Merrick.

You have a couple options for your scouting, you can go to the docks and ships, shops and guard routes, lower and upper town or the old town.

I need each group to pick a leader, how long you plan on searching and what you are looking for.

"So... where do we go?" asked Rasen to Livvi " we don't want to upset you... boss" 

The irony in his voice is plainly evident but he doesn't really care of what route to pick so he will let her do the choosing. But he has his own internal bets of what she will choose for herslef.

(So will my plan from before work? See post #125... Where we take the east side or west side and return in two hours, and where the DM tells us what is in each section and what we see or hear that is interesting...)