The first mate gives an insincere half-smile to Blair: "Heh. Cute. Seriously though, we need to know..." When Parker says that he ideally wants you all to be dropped off within the city walls, the captain gives a long whistle :"Look, I'm sorry, but if the Fist is half-competent, they'll have given your description to every patrol around the harbour, and by the morning, they're going to be checking at the gates too. If I were you, I'd lay low in one of the outer wards. But I'm willing to take the risk, for the right coin. I'm a smuggler after all, so whaddya say, for fifty gold pieces, I'll drop ya off within the walls?"

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Murph, the dwarf takes the stone gingerly, inspecting it carefully with his eyes focussed onto the edges, where you can make out tiny engravings providing the enchantment on the stone. After a short while, you hear the dwarf grumble: "D'arvit! If yer cuttin' the stone, yer gonna cut the enchantment on it... it's clear that no dwarf made this, though the work's good.Tell ya what, if yer given me a day, I can cut ya three discs outta this one, an' make sure ta engrave the same runes, ta make sure the enchantment works, as intended. It'll cost ya though, either in treasure or in trade."

"Outer ward itll have to be then"

“Twin Songs if possible please.”

The redhead would giggle, amused by the firstmate's response. "Pitty." She'd give a sly smirk. "I'd have given you the coin." Blair would dangle a coin pouch in eyesight of the smuggler before strutting away, tucking it into her leathers.

"I'll hop off when it feels right." She'd drum her fingers on her hips as she looks over Dart and Parker. Eenie, meenie, minie, mo...

Murph pays rapt attention to the dwarf, trying to get a sense of the man. 

Insight: 5

"You have a name, something you go by? I'm also curious about the pricing for such a task. And if it would change if you're just splitting it into two pairs, not three. As for trade, do you have tasks undone that might be done by someone with light fingers, who possesses the ability to get most places in the city unseen, or who can tinker with the best of them? Would such a task be something you'd accept in trade?"

"Well looks like i wont be in my bed tonight then,  wonder where to  Parker begins pacing

"Twin songs we can do" With that, the crew heaves the anchor back up onto the main deck and starts to slowly sail downriver. After another half-hour or so, the captain weighs anchor again, before letting you hop off in a small skiff that brings you ashore. You're struck by how difficult it is to make out the ship from just a few dozen yards away with the black sails and starless night behind it.

You make landfall and while the sailors that rowed you out to shore quickly return, you start to walk northwards to get away from the river and any potential river patrols. Dart, Sow's foot and your family farm is about a half-hour footmarch away, if you want to offer that as a refuge for the night.

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Murph, you can tell that the dwarf is being truthful about the enchantment, but is certainly trying to inflate the difficulty of the task in order to get the best price he can for his services.

"Dagmar the Stone-cutter. An' that'd be thirty denars, five fer materials an' twentyfive for me work. The change isn't tha' significant, since wi' three pairs, the runes are smaller an' more difficult ta carve, but they use less materials, an' with two pairs I might get the runes done quicker, but have more of an area ta cover. If yer doin' two, yer frankly wastin' some o' the stones though, an' that'd be a right darn shame." He clears his throat, realising that he got a little carried away. "Hrm. Right, well, I prefer coin, but I'd consider doin' this job fer free if yer willin' ta get me somethin' in return." He gets up and locks the door, before taking his seat again.

"Thar be a gnome in Eastways, runs a shop called the Red Thread, up in Primrose Street. Says he's a tailor, but gets most o' 'is clients wi' the fancy mechanical mannequins in 'is storefront. I want you ta steal the designs for'em, an' bring 'em to me. Designs fer stones, sound fair?"

“I’ve got a place near here where we can lie low. Though if you would rather, I suppose there’s always The Stubborn Mule.” I say looking at Parker and Blair. 

Being as im low on funds til we get paid i guess i have to take you up on your offer, tho we should separate as soon as possible, do you think anyone here would alert the authorities?

With that, the five of you duck between the scant houses at the edge of the river and quickly cross through the settlement of Twin Songs to get on the road to Sow's Foot. Making the most of the dark night, you hug the walls and stay in the shadows, doing your best to prevent any of the residents here even noticing you. Parker and Dart, you both notice with some level of surprise that Blair, Ivory and Ebony move every bit as stealthily as you do.

Moving as carefully as you can, the way to Dart's farm takes almost forty minutes, but you get there without being spotted. That is, until you reach the farmstead, where Dart's older sister stands on the porch, torch and pitch fork in hand, seemingly ready to defend their homestead against the five brigands come to rob them: "Who's there? You better go where you came from, all'a us is armed here!"

How about this, Dagmer, because I like sharing a drink with you and you seem like a straightforward fellow. Ten denars right now, which covers parts and a downpayment on your work. While I wait, I'll head over to the Red Thread, see what kind of job this is, and if it's something to do tonight, or tomorrow. If it's not for me, I'll come back and you get twenty more denars. If it's easy enough to get the plans, I could potentially have them to you tonight, for those ten denars back, minus a tip of course for good work and straight dealing. For future business. Two questions though. One, do these mannequins have any kind of dangerous function to them that I should watch out for, and two, what sorts of dreams do you have for the plans? I'm a tinkerer as I said and I've got a fairly strong sense of curiosity." Murph leans back and sips at his drink again, sliding ten denars across the table.

Dagmar grumbles a bit: "Wha I do wi' the plans be me business, ya need ta pay me more 'fore I tells ya. 'S far's I know, they're mechanical mannequins. Figure they'd have a pretty hefty whallop, what wit'all tha' metal an' wood in their arms. My advice, don't get near the mannequins. But aye, tha' works. If yer not back here by tomorrow evening though, I'll keep the gold."

Murph grunts affirmatively, finishes his drink, and hands Dagmar the other stone. "I'll be back. Don't you worry. Do I have to pay that ribbony fellow every time I come down here, or am I good for the night with my first 'contribution'?"

He then heads out of the Undercellar, up to the rooftops, and over to the buildings around the Red Thread, scoping the place out carefully.

“Erica it’s me. Or do you not recognize me in my dashing outfit? I’ve brought over a few friends and we will be hanging out in the cellar for a bit.”

"The toll? You would 'ave ta be mighty dumb ta skimp on yer dues to tha Guild. Better pay Ribbons, or else the Cellarers'll find a dark corner to stow you away, that's wha' they say at least. But if yer makin' it back 'ere 'fore dawn, I think Ribbons'll remember you."

He gladly accepts the second stone, before Murph makes his way quickly out of the small chamber and through the winding tunnels back to the wine cellar of the Three Old Kegs. As you reach it, the large thug that brought you down to the Undercellar leans in and whispers: "Better be careful out there, someone's blown up a Watch post down in Brampton, Watch and Fist are crawling over the city."

With that, you step through the door, and into the back alley. With a quick throw of your grappling hook, you make your way up onto a nearby roof. The sight is rather stunning: You can spot two plumes of smoke lit from below from raging flames across the harbour, and you can hear the faint ringing of alarm bells pierce the fog.

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Erica looks at you, before almost yelling at you: "Dart, you nearly gave me a heart attack!  Why are you coming from the south? And who are your friends?" You push onwards, leading the others to the cellar, as you start to mumble some answers to your sister, who meekly lets her guard drop, seemingly just glad to see you here safe.

A few moments later, you've settled into the cellar of the Fastfoot Farm. Is there anything you want to discuss, or do you try to head to sleep immediately?

Pushing past Erica without really addressing her questions, I quickly usher everyone into the cellar. Not having anything to say to the present company I make ready to turn in for the night and am puzzled by the appearance of a tea packet in my pockets. (Heading to sleep for a nights rest, unless someone else engages me in conversation)

Murph begins to take the route toward both home and the target establishment, mind preoccupied with the plumes of smoke. This could be bad news, regardless of intent.

He gives it a go, first trying for a shortcut, hand-over-handing it on a low clothesline across a square that would avoid a more normal/treacherous/more obvious/higher route over some rowhomes near a busier street. The square is quiet, but if he falls, he's on his butt on the ground -- not an enviable position. 

Acrobatics: 23

Assuming a success, he then tries to investigate the best pathway forward that keeps eyeballs off him as the guard rush about the city.

Investivation: 17

The twins would follow Dart’s leave passed Erica with Blair shortly in tow behind. She’d glance over her shoulder to make sure Parker wasn’t too far behind while they made their way down to the cellar.

Blair partially expected Dart to rhyme off any house rules or even discuss their next steps. But he appeared to be the quiet one now.

The twins would lean into Blair whispering into her ears. She’d grin, “I don’t think it’s me you need to ask.” They wanted to offer Dart their company for the evening. He didn’t have to indulge in their services. But they fancied him for his generosity and kindness. Otherwise Blair would have her hands full with them tonight, unless of course Parker wanted them in his hands. 

Parker enters and looks around, eventually finding a spot in the corner where he can jot some notes

Murph, you successfully make it across the square and onto a nearby rooftop, from which to assess your options: you had passed two patrols of guards on your way so far, even this far away from the fires. If the thug had been truthful, blast powder was likely involved in whatever this is and your Master being one of the only suppliers, it won't be long before they notice the missing stores. It was difficult to create that stuff, and either way you'd have to explain yourself to someone... but all your worldly possessions and tools were still there, and the sooner you made it back, the more time you'd have before someone came knocking. Your attic in the Heapside was close by, only about five blocks or so away from where you are now. 

At the other hand, your network within the city was limited, and getting the job for Dagmar done quickly and cleanly, even under less than ideal circumstances, might be a way to find partners for future endeavours, should you have to make a quick getaway from the attic. The indicated address is somewhere near the western end of the Eastway ward, but you'd have to cross the Heapside ward unnoticed to get there.

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With the three of you and the twins trying to find some rest, either with or without company, the next few hours pass relatively quietly, until you're being woken around lunch time, six hours later. You see that Parker had fallen asleep over his notes, likely having worked late into the night. Even if he hadn't agreed to anything in particular, Dart wakes up with the twins sleeping either side of him, which evokes a small chuckle from Blair.

The scene is somewhat surreal, and you all are a bit jumpy from the tension of the events of the night before. How easy would it be to get back into the city? What had actually happened down near Insight Park? For now, none of you know.

What would you like to do?