The party begins to roll the heavy dray through the streets, as Boko distracts passers-by with colorful diversions. It seems to work. Nobody misses the wagon; few pay the party much heed. The odd tarp attracts a few inquisitive eyes, but the blooming flora is an even more unusual sight, and quickly draws attention to the cracks and alleys hosting them.

Soon the party crosses the bridge into the High Quarter. (Where to? Thornwell Tower?)

"Why don't one of us run on ahead an' get tha attention of our contact an' ask if'n they might join us fer a little get tagether."  Qivys suggests. 

Thwack 

Qivys' barked order snaps Thwack into action. He barely takes a few steps before he finds himself jumping back into the cart. After what seems like an eternity Thwack asks "Kippers, why I watch sleeping mans? They just....sleeping"

Regardless, Thwack continues to watch their passed out captives like a hawk. When Qivys again speaks Thwack looks at him like a dog begging for a treat. "Me go?" he pleads.

The two unconscious men remain still under your makeshift tarp as you roll the stolen dray through the city. It's a very heavy vehicle, and not easy to navigate over the uneven streets here. As you enter the High Quarter the crowds and traffic thins out, and the road surfaces improve, making your progress a little easier.

The unmistakable black and red marble pinnacle of Thornwell Tower draws closer, even as its highest peaks are partially lost to the perpetual brown haze in the air. The massive, intricately-carved double door is now visible. It is as cold, imposing, and unwelcoming as before.

Qivys nods to Thwack.
"Go, make it quick" he tells the kobold. "An' say we need her help with gettin' information about whats going on." 

Gerrard:

Nodding in agreement at Qivys' suggestion, Gerrard continues to pull the cart. He adds, "See if she can get us quickly to an inside stable or something and alert her that a dangerous being is possessing Kei's body."

Thwack 

"Yip yip" Thwack squeals with excitement as he leaps from the cart once more. He'd finally been given a task he could complete. Without hesitation he runs as fast as his tiny legs will carry him towards Thornwell's tower. Need help. Get inside quickly. Kei possessed. He repeats his companions words over in his head as he runs.

Once at the towers entrance he knocks rapidly and waits. To whomever answers the door he blurts "We need keys to the stable. Inside is possessed with information." After a moment he realises he may have mixed up his message. He pants for a moment, hands on his knees. Once he regains his breath he tries again. "We need to get inside. Lord Bernard ask if we can go to stables. We have keys and him possessed. Help. Please."

The young nameless human man, dressed in his formal black and red uniform, answers the door. Neatly groomed and painfully polite, he takes Thwack's request in perfect stride. 

"Please come in. The mistress wasn't expecting you back so soon. I'm afraid we have no stables. But tell me more about how we can help you." He crouches down a little and looks directly into Thwack's eyes with unblinking precision. "Who possesses what? Or whom? Forgive my directness." 

Then he looks over Thwack's shoulder to see the others pulling the dray in the distance, slowly approaching. "And what, may I ask, do you bring upon your cart?" He furrows his brow with concern.

Thwack 

With his breath finally returning, Thwack stands tall (for a kobold) and returns the stare of the gaze. He begins slowly "Gerrard says to ask for help. Maybe in the stables to hide the cart." As he continues his common falls away to normal Thwack-speak. "He say to get in fast. The keys possesses by evil thing but he knocked out so is other guy other guy explode and hurt everyone but Kippers still cranky he say get help. Now me here." He grins knowing he'd delivered the necessary information accurately. He waits for the young man to digest what is happening. "Yip. OK? Help now?"

"Come in, come in," sighs the nameless butler, ushering Thwck inside the gate. And then he steps outside into the street. The butler holds his hand up, signaling for the rest of you to stop. "Stop where you are. Leave the cart there," he commands. He points to the side of the road, near a low black outer wall. "Follow me." He directs you in a different direction, into a side courtyard, behind a series of ever-larger, baffled walls. "Please move quickly."

Gerrard:

"Leaving the pelt here unattended would be unwise, " says Gerrard.  Rolling up the pelt and its contents, he asks, "Can I get a bit of help carrying this?" as he does his best to follow the butler.

"Leave them," he commands. "Let our servants carry them to the saferoom; they are already here. It is safe. What's not safe is you all dallying out here. Or bringing this cargo into our parlour. Please leave this and follow me." He urges you into the side courtyard, not toward the imposing opened double doors Thwack is currently peering out of.

Qivys shakes his head and walks in.
"What ain't safe is worlin' in tha shadows when folks are dyin' due ta evil stalkin' tha land." he says as he passes.
"You best smooth things over with tha high up." he says to Gerrard. "Cause all this intrigue an' false highness leads ta nothin' but folks dyin' an' people retreatin' ta their high towers, until that evil comes callin' at their door. Then they scream and holler about "Why ain't you folks doing this an' that?" only ta find out that their hidin' got everyone they are dependin' on killed off." 

Gerrard:

Satisfied that their captives are not going to be left in the street to wake up and cause problems, Gerrard complies with the servant’s instructions, speaking with Qivys as they walk.

”In my experience, working with the nobility is much like sailing the ocean.  Layers of power and privilege stack down into the depths, with hidden currents and powerful tides that can wreck us if we sail unwisely.  This city is perhaps one of the worst I have ever seen in terms of the squalor many live in and the disregard for sentient life,” says Gerrard.

”Still, there are people here like Councilor Thornwell who will use their power to address the threats to the city—be it blue-boil zombies or covert Aboleth cultists—but are too entrenched in the system to directly oppose the corruption without direct proof,” he continues, “That is where we come in, raising our sail and harnessing the power of our ally, navigating treacherous waters to find the truth, or at least actionable evidence.  The goal is to do so without getting smashed by the opposition and drowning in the cesspit that this city has become.”

The nameless butler beckons for Thwck to follow, and then leads you through a side courtyard into a small basement entrance down a flight of narrow stairs made of smooth black stone.

Inside is a black stone cell – windowless and doorless except for the entrance. Black wooden benches line the walls; a single candelabra on a small, low table provides flickering light. The place smells of chemicals. But it is clean and neat, if stark and severe. 

"Please wait here. I will inform the madam. You are safe here," he adds, before exiting and closing the door.

Thwack 

Thwack responds to the beckoning man by dashing to Gerrard's side where he apologises for failing, again. "Sorry Harrod, the man say he no have a stable." 

Once in the basement he looks around. "Me like this room. Is like lair I live in one time. Not as dirty here though" he wanders the small room while commenting to no one in particular. He finally stops near the corner opposite the door, turns a circle and then curls into a circle on the floor. Looking like a sleeping cat he takes a deep breath and relaxes while he watches the door.

The butler closes the door behind him. It is dark, and perfectly quiet, within this small black chamber. The flickering candelabra projects dancing shadows upon the black stone walls. The air smells cleaner here than on the streets, but also of chemicals and something burnt.

You wait.

Boko smells, and investigates, the source of the chemical odor. Does it seem similar to the chemical odors we have encountered elsewhere in the city?

She also tries the door gently to see if it is locked. She doesn’t try to open, just the latch.

Investigation: 4 (or if perception, 12)

The chemical odor smells more alchemical than industrial – arcane and other-planar, perhaps. Different than the toxic fumes of the city, but not necessarily any safer or more pleasant.

Boko tries the single door they entered through. It is locked. She cannot open it.

Gerrard:

”Hmm, this is not the reception I expected,” says Gerrard.  He thinks back to the servant and tries to recall if there was anything suspicious.

Insight:  11

As he is still pretty heavily injured, Gerrard makes good use of the time to bandage his wounds and rest a bit (spending Hd if an hour passes).