Above & Below

"Another monk?" Rasgo looks down in confusion. "We had heard about a powerful new member of the organization...but we didn't know who it was. They never revealed themselves in public."

Rastel sips a bit of water slowly. "It seems that the Dark Forest was tricked, though. Did you have any interaction this other group before they got away? Did they have anything with them? Perhaps these thugs stumbled upon something more powerful than they knew."

Kurama, they seem to be forthcoming. 

"We did."  Kurama replied.  "We attempted to stop them, but they managed to slip away before we could determine what they were up to.  The one thing we do know about them though..." Kurama added before pausing to look at his comrades, "...is that like us, they were all most likely not from this world.  In particular, I recognized their leader, the monk.  We are, were, from the same monastery.  And if he came to this realm for something or someone specific, his reasoning for doing so cannot be good.  Do you think he may have been after something of the Sisters or the items you recently came across?"   

Effort watches the discussion, weighing her options.  Sighing, she waves her hand, interrupting them.

"Let's be frank.  This monk's name was Orochi, he's someone Kurama has grievance with, and he's also a follower of my own patron, a fiend of great power who is at odds with Yeenoghu, the demon we're trying to stop."  She stares at the monks coldly should they look at her askance for anything she says up to that point.  "That monk led his own followers to slaughter the Black Forest on the outskirts of the city, both in their safehouses and in a tower just outside the city.  We were unable to stop them in time, though if you ask me, his intent never really was to fight us in the first place.  After all, we are, in a way, allies in this moment.  But we have no idea how they were able to conduct such slaughter, or why they did so in the first place.  It's obvious they found whatever they were looking for, as they already left this plane of existence.

... which means they are not looking for the same things we are, for what we seek is held by the Eldest Sister.  And this, our stop to assist you, is because you," and she looks at Rastel sharply, "have curried favor with the Second Sister.  Out of respect for her and her family, we are helping you.  So the more you can tell us, the better your own positions will be.  For your powerful new monk ally has completed his task and left the two of you to hang out to dry.  And the Black Forest will surely be on the warpath once they discover what has happened to their minions at the hands of this fellow.  So.  Tell us what you can, if you will.  Your lives may depend on it."

Rastel and Rasgo look at each other with somewhat perplexed looks. "We do not know of any Orochi, honestly. This is the first time we've heard the name. The Sister warned us that she had been feeling...manipulations of reality here. Most likely from a plane of existence buried deep below our own. Perhaps this is the place where your patron resides. If he has allies that can easily travel through the mortal worlds, we may be more behind on things than we originally thought..." Rastel coughs, gripping his side in pain. "I assure you, he is no ally of ours, though. And you would be careful to consider him one of yours."

"The items we had stolen from us remain in this world. We can still feel their presence. The Dark Forest have not transported anything, meaning they must still be at their headquarters, or perhaps already loaded up on their boat. As for what this monk took from them...perhaps the eldest Sister will know."

Effort crosses her arms and turns to the others.  "Well.  Then hitting the boat is something we must do, twelve guardsmen or not.  Let's devise a strategy, and not forget about our two friends at the bar.  We are six... seven, if Rasgo would also see fit to assist us, even in a non-combatative role."

(OOC: if no one has anything I'll drop some ideas here later, I haven't had a lot of time to devote my brain to tactical use lately)

Is there anyone else in town who doesn't like the Dark Forest?  Might want to join us taking them down?  Brask isn't sure this monk will know either way, but gives it a try.  And where is their headquarters?  That in town?

"Yes, their headquarters - at least in town - is a warehouse just outside of the dock district. Easy for them to quickly get their cargo in and out without anyone bothering them. Plenty don't like them, but there aren't a lot of warriors here. Most are too afraid of confrontation to say or do anything about their presence. They just eek out an existence as best they can, caring for their families. I will happily help  you carry out your task, however. Rastel, I'm afraid, will be of little use. Sorry, friend."

"No, I am sorry. I should be at the front line of this fight." He looks down, then back up. "Please, let me know if there is anything I can do."

"Rest. Now...I suspect that ship won't be docked for much longer. We should strike at it within the next day, lest they set sail unimpeded."

"We need a plan," Effort finally says, after the group spends a quiet moment considering the issue.  "Where is this warehouse?  Do you know how many men guard it?  Would we have any reason to visit it publicly?  Such as taking Rasgo in as a prisoner?  We might even be able to use that dustup outside of town in the tower as an excuse."  She crosses her arms.  "Perhaps if we can get inside on the premise of official business, we can incapacitate the manager inside without facing all the goons, and search this warehouse at our leisure.  We might even be able to use the premise of delivering something from the warehouse as a reason to board the ship, and sabotage it from the inside."

"Hm...I am not confident they would feel comfortable letting outsiders in. They have enough men to handle most of the work, there. No reason to risk infiltration. Though offering something up might be able to sway them - treasure, a prisoner perhaps. Best to try something like that when there are men outside bringing things to the docks. Less chance of being overwhelmed. Or perhaps a diversion at their ship?"

"No way to say for sure how many men would be inside, though it will be more than just the one who runs things, certainly. The location is not hard to find. Rasgo knows the way."

"Well, I think before we make any decisions, we should take a cursory look at both the ship and the warehouse from afar.  It might give us a better sense of where and how to begin.  Rasgo, would it be safe for you to lead us to each?"  

Rasgo agrees and, after making Rastel comfortable and getting him a small plate of food, he leads you out into the city once again. You travel down another main road toward the ocean. It seems less traveled but still has people making their way up and down. After about ten minutes Rasgo slows and attempts to casually glance about your surroundings. At this point you can smell the salty air, though the ocean and docks are still out of view. Rasgo nods toward a relatively large brick building on the other side of the street. Two men with deer bones lining their leather armor stand out front, but seem to pay little mind to the commoners walking by with baskets of potatoes and onions. 

As you watch for a few moments, a trio of armed men carrying heavy wooden crates exit the door. They stop briefly, one struggling with the weight for a moment before steadying himself. Another man hurries out from the building behind them, only wielding a short sword and a crossbow on his back. 

Rasgo turns and whispers. "Almost certainly bringing cargo to the ship. Should we strike now, with their numbers at least slightly dwindled? Or do you want to survey the ship first?"

Also what did you want the two big mercenaries to be doing (if anything)? We can say you picked them back up on the way.

(I think we hold the two mercs in reserve for the biggest fight, which probably (hopefully) isn't this one.   If they have ranged weapons, maybe they can fight from a distance with Pip.)

Let's go in, says Brask, maul at the ready, but he looks to the others for confirmation.  

(Let's bring em along so the fight is unfair, but instruct them to stay at range because we want them healthy for somethin' else)

"I agree," Effort says.  "Enough talk, it is time to get something done.  Now."

She instructs Cadmael to be ready to assist in the attack, and touches her forehead for guidance.

"But..." Kurama began before sighing and nodding in resignation to this new plan.  "If we are going to strike immediately, we should push the fighting to the interior of the building as quickly as possible  I can run ahead and attempt to do so if you'd all like."   

(Kurama could run over and attempt to shove them inside quickly if that's what people want to do.)

"There are four of them and one of you.  Even with your astral arms we are going to miss some of them and it will get messy.  I can try to stun them and we can deal with the ones who resist my spell," Effort offers.

(If you want Effort to drop a hypnotic pattern say the word, if not, just go ahead and do your thing and make the rolls I would say.)

"If we wait until these four are out of ear shot, there are only the two at the door. Unknown how many are still inside, of course. I would venture a guess that there are at least a few."

Brask waits until the four are far enough away, and then charges the door along with Kurama.

(Let's do it!)

As soon as the 4 men were out of sight, Kurama gave Brask a nod and charged ahead towards the two men still guarding the door; speed and the element of surprise was needed much more than stealth at this point.  Gathering the energy inside of him as he ran, as soon as he was within range (10ft), he released the energy in a burst of power before attempting to shove one of the guards inside and away from any prying eyes on the street…

• Movement: Charge the two remaining guards
• Action: Shove Attempt #1: 11+7 = 18
• Extra Attack/ or Shove Attempt #2 (if 1st attempt failed) : Hit- 12, Damage- 6 Force/ or 2+7 = 9
• Bonus Action: Activate Astral Arms (effects both guards if they are within 10ft of each other)- DC15 DEX Save or take 5 Force Damage 

They're certainly not expecting to be charged at, but give me a dex check to see how quickly you get the jump on them. And then Brask, let me know if you're doing the same (charging to shove).

Dex Check: 16