Blair took her time going down the shaft. She didn't know what she was expecting, but she couldn't of imagined this. A soft gasp would leave her lips as her big green eyes would widen further in awe. Stepping to turn slowly as she took her first look around, the redhead wanted to be angry. She wanted to be mad at Parker for giving her such vague directions, but she was so boggled at this point, the anger was gone. Instead, she felt calm while struggling to accept a sense of comfort.

While the two conversed, Blair's boots would click gently as she'd take her time padding around the area. Her hands would hover over the items as she scanned. Disassembled printing presses, stamping machines, small stock of metals. Mass production of forgeries... fake currency... all ready for production? Reems of paper, sealing wax, seals... My seal... 

'Burn everything'. Was all of this, it?

The notes compartment would catch her eye. Blair would check that too.

Blair would finally look up at the pair. She'd strut over to Dart's side and rest a gentle hand on his shoulder for reassurance that she trusts Murph, well her instincts do. She'd lean herself against the halfling as she'd look Murph up and down. Moving her mouth close to Dart's ear, she'd whisper. "So hasty to get excited. No need to go reaching for that weapon of yours, yet." She'd grin.

The red head would step forward, reaching a hand out elegantly to Murph offering a handshake of truce. "Blair." She'd finally introduce herself with her classic sly smile. "Pleasure."

"You could say I'm familiar with Magnus, or at least, he's familiar with me." Blair would wink.

"We all have our secrets and we've all lost something." Blair would rest a hand on her hip. She'd be frank. "The question is, do our goals align?"

Blair, inside the segmented space you find three reems of paper, covered in notes:

and finally

"My goal today is to keep my head above water," Murph says, closing his eyes and sighing. "It seems speaking in metaphor and generality is getting us nowhere." He takes the offered hand, and his own is small, cool, and not exactly rough, but the callouses are worked smooth. His dark fingers are delicate, but assured.

"It is good to meet you, Blair. And you, as well," he says, indicating Dart. "My goal beyond today is to make this place better than it is. Because it's not great for people who look like me. And, I think, others. Perhaps others like yourselves. It's something I wasn't fully aware of. Too focused on my work. When I found out, I wanted to help change it. But I didn't know how. When Orren and his compatriots reached out, I was happy to 'accidentally' lose track of some powder. At least, it used to be powder. It's still smoking around Insight Park, if I'm not mistaken. But, well, now I can't go back to work. Or home. Same thing. So I'm a bit lost." He smiles ruefully.

"Normally I'd just run away from people who pull knives on me, but I'm taking the chance that maybe you also want to change things in this city. Or at least, not report me to the Fist. Right now, I'd like to get those plans from the shop across the street to be able to pay for some work I'm having done on a tool that will be very helpful in what I assume my life will be like from now on. But honestly, I'd really love to dive into these tools and notes and see what I can scavenge, and make useful here. Orren and his friends, maybe Magnus, would probably this to be used, rather than eliminated. Is there a place to hide them away? An unused dead-end tunnel, or an old store-room? I'd be happy to just work there, I don't mind the dark." He looks around nervously, having realized he's been talking on and on, terrified that he's said too much.

“What is you’ve lost? To me those words have come to represent those things for certain people.” I’m still standing in a tense defensive posture. Outside of meeting with the members of the unbowed talking about such things hadn’t really happened. And seeing as how I haven’t heard from them in days... not sure I should trust ... anyone really. (I realize my question was already answered.)

Blair coming up behind me and placing he hand on my shoulder would startle me enough that I would draw my dagger unintentionally and would then immediately sheath the blade once I realized it was Blair.

I give a subtle head nod during Murph’s monologue. But otherwise say very little during his speech, as the newcomer falls silent I begin with some of my own thoughts.

“If you’re looking to make this a better place, Orren and Magnus are a great place ta start. I’m starting to get the feeling that Parker’s call to burn everything wasn’t so much referring to this place and more so referring to the corrupt system running things here.” Relaxing my posture slightly I start pacing, “Given that Parker is now being hunted by the Fist and the watch for that matter. It’s only a matter of time before they come here to search his things. Should they find the entrance, this stuff should be long gone I feel. Though where to put it isn’t an answer I have.”

I look at Blair “Do you have somewhere he could stay. It’s probably not a good idea for him to be with me either. I do think it’s a good idea to bring him to meet Magnus at the very least. But for an immediate plan of action, I suggest we see if there’s another way in and/or out of here. Then we go help ... Murph here with his little bit of burglary.”

Murph's tension melts just a bit as Dart speaks. "You're a little jumpy. I'm a little jumpy. I think, given everything happening right now, if one is not jumpy, one is not paying attention. You speak sense, my new friend. Why don't I take a look at these tunnels while the two of you look through the notes and try to gather useful things together for easy, quiet transport. The tunnel may provide some options on this front. I don't mind the dark at all, and I can usually stay quiet in such places. I won't be more than a few minutes, and will return with information. Once a decision is reached with what to do with his possessions -- and I can usually hide things well in nooks on rooftops -- then we can do that, and then talk about the other task." 

Murph nods in awkward thanks. He gets himself ready to examine the opening to the tunnel and pauses, listening, looking for any traps, tripwires, anything that would hinder easy access. Assuming he finds none, he will poke his head out and see what he sees. 

Investigation: 25
Stealth: 13 (advantage assumed from being in stone terrain)

Murph, the tunnel does indeed head to some sort of sewage tunnel, though by the lack of water it looks like an old abandoned one, making this a perfect escape route, since you won't have to contend with any fluctuations in the water level potentially ruining the stored machinery in the other room. You follow the tunnel for several hundred yards in a northward direction, before you come to a loose grate. Looking beyond it, you see another tunnel, more spacious and about five feet below this one. It carries water and refuse, but there appear to be two narrow walkways, about three feet wide on either side of the water. YOu're not entirely sure whether they are dry or not though. In any case, this tunnel heads off either eastwards or westwards, tapping further into the canalisation network. From the looks of things, you wouldn't be surprised if you could follow it all the way to the Undercellar.

Murph returns and says, "it's me, no dagger business. This goes for a while, no surprises, and may connect to a place which is sort of an... underground market away from official eyes. Actually the person who asked for the plans works there. There might be a way to get a safer place to store things, to stay out of sight, if we can sweet-talk the guy who runs the place."

He moves forward to look at the machinery and metalwork. He's trying to see if it's something he'd be able to use easily. He's less interested in the notes, and more interested in the printing press, stamping machines, etc. He tries to see which rarer, valuable equipment would be best for the first crate, something to get mobile and secreted away. His mind is turning through this equipment, and his tools he's secreted on a few rooftops closer to his former workplace, to see what he might be able to do with all of them together.

Perception: 8

While Murph is exploring the tunnel and trying to determine where it leads. I would take the time to examine the contents of this location in more detail. I would also ask Blair if she found anything potentially useful upstairs (the logbook or whatever it was called)

Jumping slightly on Murph’s return, my hand reflexively goes to the dagger. Then seeing it’s ‘just Murph’ I immediately relax.

“That sounds like a decent plan.” I say in response to Murph’s idea. “Before it gets too bright outside we should probably complete this ‘job’ of yours.”

(Is it possible to secure the entrance we used after going through it?)

Blair stares a bit stunned at the documents as she pours over them. Her mind is so muddled, she still needed more time to review and digest them. One thing she knew for sure, was her client was on there. She was on there. The redhead would secure the documents on her person. Inhaling a breath, Blair would turn back to Murph and Dart. For now she'd give her attention back to the group discussion. 

"I can agree with wanting to make this place better for everyone." Blair would return Murph's candidness, shifting her weight a little. She was still processing everything, but she'd still smile, although a little sheepish. "I can also agree with taking this one step at a time while we process our situations."

Returning a hand to her hip, maybe getting back to business will help get the blood flowing and set herself straight. "The guy who runs the place, what does he like? Value? His expertise? What piques his interest?" Blair would rhyme off some questions as she'd pace the area. Whether Murph could answer them or not... anything might help her gain advantage on their attempt at sweet talking him.

Investigation: 23

"Well, it's called the Market Below, or the Undercellar, and his name is Ribbons. Seemed unruffled, and smiles a lot. I'd guess he enjoys being in control, and knowing more than everyone else. I only met him a bit ago though, and briefly. Done some work for the Guild, here and there." Murph says. Then he blinks. "Oh, you mean the tailor with the mannequins. Hmm. All I know is he's a gnome. That's it. And the more I think about it, the more I think that the day's changed, and I'd rather just pay for my purchase with gold, and skip the heist for now. Dagmar will be happy to be paid the rest of what he asked for, and I'll get my commission, and I'm not risking a heist in a shop full of potentially dangerous automatronic mannequins when the city's in a bit of a huff. What do you think?"

He offers to get some of the equipment out of the chamber and into the tunnel. He's curious if the opening can be closed and disguised, but isn't too hopeful. "How quickly to you think this person's home will be raided?" He's trying to figure out how immediately the place needs to be clear.

Dart, studying the ledger for about fifteen minutes, you realise that the numbers are arrayed in groups of three, with the first never reaching above three, the second ranging from one to about sixty, and the last ranging from one to about forty. If you understood this correctly, then that meant that the numbers indicated the page number, line and the word, meaning that the document you were looking for had only three pages, around thirty to forty words per line and about fifty to sixty lines per page. What you're looking ofr must be a letter of some kind!

And as far as Murph's question is concerned, you remember the guards having a fairly detailed sketch of Parker at the gates, but that was likely because of the description given by the marines on the Empress and not because they know who he was. It was therefore likely up to luck, and a suspicious guard might pass by in an hour and be suspicious at the lack of activity and report it, or you might pass unnoticed until Parker is snatched up and they realise who he is and go to investigate his apartment. From what you know, Parker disappeared without being apprehended, but if he was caught in the meantime, you might only have a couple of hours...

After Murph finishes his description for Blair and his few questions, I simply shrug. “It’s your job. If you wanna abandon it that’s your call. I’m usually better at stabbing things before they have a chance to stab back.”

There’s a silence while I ponder his second question. “Depends on if they caught him or not. If they did I imagine it’ll be sooner rather than later. But there’s more here than we can move quickly. Further, if this apartment is searched and this place is found. There’s no doubt in my mind that they will fully explore this area just as we have.” There’s a second moment of thoughtful silence to let those words sink in.

”Regardless of if we do this job of yours Murph. I think our best bet is to cover our tracks here. Meaning returning everything upstairs to the way we found it. Figuring out where a secondary entrance to this place is. And meeting with Magnus and getting his help moving all this junk.” After this ‘master plan’ is shared I begin rubbing my temples as if I have a headache. ‘Now where did I put that tea Blair gave me... I could use a cup of that now.’

"Well, perhaps we put the place in order upstairs, grab anything portable and useful here, check outside to see if there's been any change in the building across the street, and make a decision. If the building looks ripe for a look-see, I'd be happy to have backup. If not, we can proceed with closing the barrel up there, emptying this room of equipment for the tunnels, and heading to the Undercellar with it, on the hunt for a place to hide it. Unless you both have a better idea..." Murph says, eyes widening.

I silently nod in agreement. It’s a good a plan as any. I then shoot Blair and look to see what she thinks about Murph’s idea. 

“Darlin’, my ideas of excitement usually are much different.” She’d wink playfully before nodding affirmatively. “Let’s get our affairs in order and prowl the evening Murph’s way.” Blair would pull a mischievous grin on her face.

Together, you all put the place back in order to make sure it'd pass a fairly rigorous inspection. By the time you're finished with everything, it's almost evening, and as you look over to the tailor's shop, you can see the last few customers leaving. You keep watching for about a quarter of an hour, observing the two automata in the shop window, delighting passers-by with a little dance routine. Then, a small gnome in a green suit and frilly shirt heads closes the door and locks up, before heading down to the harbour, likely for some diversion. Just to be sure, you observe a few more minutes, but it seems as though the coast is clear and no one is left inside the shop.

"Would the two of you like to join me in breaking in there? Or do you want to be lookouts? I really don't have anything against this tailor, I just want to see if the plans are accessible and I can copy them over to pay for my items." Murph says. He has been paying attention to the street to see how crowded it is, how often there are guards.

The guards seem to still be focussed with investigating whatever caused the explosion in Insight Park and whoever is responsible for the sabotage on one of the ships in the harbour. You only see one patrol make their way through, as the shops close. The street isn't crowded, but there's a handful of people nearby, walking the streets or heading out to look for entertainment.

Blair would present Murph with a coy smile, "It'd be a pleasure to join you, or assist in some way."