Murph, looking around you, there isn't much in the way of obvious signs of civilization here. Even if someone where to track the boat, the rocky shoal underneath your boots means you leave scant a trace as you head into the hills and out of view from the river. As you crest the first hills south of the river, you see the large steel mills to your right, looming ominously in the dim moonlight, about two miles to the north.

Murph accepts a ride for a short while but eventually steels himself and drops off the tabaxi's back and double times it to keep up with the group. "Go ahead and scout to make sure the way is clear and safe like you wanted. What is this hideout? Will it be safe enough to rest for a few days? I won't be up for much for a while. Parker, your place can be a backup, but right now, it seems like getting out of the city is a good idea. We can go back once we've recovered. Perhaps that underground route." Murph stops talking, visibly tired from speaking so much.

"Far as i can tell, won't be another place at all for miles, so we don't really have many options. They should let us in once they see my ugly mug again. But alright, I will check ahead. You all keep your wits about you....never assume we are alone.....and not just here."

19 for stealth

9 for perception, forgot to put this here, it said 20 before i clicked edit, and was a 16 for stealth above in case it rerolls after editing this in

(First time actually using the dice roller in threads, so here's hoping)

"Lead on then good sir"

Too tired to object to the Tabaxi’s directions, I follow along trying to recall when and if I have seen anyone like them before. (I don’t think they’ve been mentioned before in the setting so I was just curious) Hoping they aren’t leading us into some kind of trap. 

Muttering.  "First thing i need to do is change my appearance.   Then rest.  Sweet rest."

"Rest will come easily enough if we can get to where i hope we are going...." Tynthis mutters before moving ahead about 30ft to scout (With rolls made above)

Dart, you're right, tabaxi are very rare this far north, and you only very rarely saw any in Borogrod before the civil war, however, you did see some serve in special scouting or light infantry regiments of the army. They were both feared and respected for their independence, their stealth, and their seeming alienness and predatory nature when they were out on missions, as many seemed more beast than man, at least that was what the imperial army said of them back then.

To you that leaves two possibilities: Tynthis is either a foreign volunteer, or someone who was sick of being looked at like a freak and instead chose to fight for the common folk, much like you had decided to do.

Parker waits an appropriate time then carrying twitch follows the tabaxi

Murph also just keeps plodding forward, trying to update Blair on their destination over the earpiece.

As the escapees make their way slowly through the hills and off into the night, Murph tries to give indications as to where you came ashore and where you're heading next. Before long though, you get no more indications of a response, and looking back to the lights of Twin songs dimly mirrored in the black Chionthar river, you figure that the distance is probably too large for the earpiece. Whatever indication you gave would have to suffice.

Tynthis, your mind is focussed on the task at hand an much like you used your focus to make it through the stint in the Rock, the tials of the cold dark night wouldn't get in your way either. The short halfling seemed to have been the one to put this whole escape plan together, but from the looks of it they hadn't expected so many to flee along with you and now that their plan had gone belly up and the trickster seemed to be struggling, they were all looking to your calm and focus for the next couple of miles. 

----------------------------------------------

At the word exes, Straightstick seems to perk up, and a quick shift of his eyes to one of the Fists next to the flame and Blair gives a hint of what comes next. WIth tension leaving his face and a smile curling the thin lips, he looks to the Flame: "No, of course not. Come on inside then, you, and that one"- pointing at Blair as he says so. The surprised look on the Flame's face is matched with a glint of satisfaction in Straightstick's eyes. "Your boys can keep mine company out here,  one of my lieutenants is waitin' on the inside." With that, Straightstick indicated a small door behind him in a voice that made clear that this wasn't an invitation. Blair also notices that two of the sharpshooters have started to train their weapons on her instead of the guards.

Grinding her teeth, the Flame looks to her soldiers: "Stand down, he's right- I didn't want this to be a bloodbath, so lets see what he's willing to tell us. Stay out here, and keep your eyes peeled and ears perked. If you do't hear from us in ten minutes, whistle for backup and come get our asses."

----
"The bombings, yeah? Got nothing to do with me." Straightstick's "office" was little more than a small living room inside of a townhouse, made even more claustrophobic by the dim lighting. A quiet brute with a cleft palette and split lip kept to a corner, cleaning their fingernails with a long  and curved dagger. Whatever advantage you might have had was now clearly evened out.

"Come on Straightstick, do you take us for fools? We got witnesses to the transfer of the powder and it just so happens to blow up and shut down Brampton for days- and you seriously expect me to believe you knew nothing of this?" The Flame's tone is sharp. "Look, luv, we both know you ain't here to arrest me. So hows about we cut to the chase, yeah? What do you want?" And then turning his steely gaze on Blair, he asks you directly: "And how did you get caught up in all this? I thought, I made it clear that there'd be no going back on our deal..."

Tynthis leads the group towards where he hopes a hideout is waiting for them. Thankfully not finding any opposition along the way, he keeps his pace as fast as he can without going too far ahead from the wearied people behind him.

Once arriving at the hideout, if anyone is also using it, Tynthis will quietly announce himself to them, stating that he has others who desperately need to hide and warm up. Otherwise he will just leave everyone in and help everyone get settled.

Blair’s green eyes make contact with those pointing at her. Having weapons trained on her often came hand in hand in her line of work, even if most of them were friendly fire. With a smirk, she’d blow them a kiss before strutting off into the establishment as requested. 

Spotting the brute, Blair would make point to pass him by and give a little friendly wave with signature smile and sway of her hips.

Once Straightstick and the Flame got settled to begin talking business, Blair would casually pad around, panning the small space. She’d make note of what was familiar and what could be new. Then the steely gaze came her way. The redhead would meet his look with batted eyelashes. “I follow my thirst, and sometimes it leads me to trouble.” She lets out a longing sigh. “And this drought has me aching…” She pouts playfully. “Mixing pleasure and business does have it’s risks.” She’d admit. “But I never go back to front, that’s just common courtesy.” She’d wink.

Straightstick's gaze seems to look striaght into Blair's soul. With no hint of warmth in his eyes, he says: "You're soon becoming more trouble than you're worth. Don't make me write my friend in Pravdarog now..."

Your heart almost skips a beat. The threat was clear enough, but Straightstick missed that your shock doesn't stem from the threat. Up until this moment, you had always wondered about where they'd taken her, and with his threat, Straightstick had given you an answer, even if he didn't intend for you to know.

Blair's head is spinning, the rush of blood to her ears temporarily blocking out the sound of the ongoing conversation between the Flame and Straightstick. Nadezhda was in the capital!

"H h how far to this place" Parker whispers

Tynthis falls back to rejoin the group.

"Alright, it seems we're in the clear, should be nothing and nobody between us and the hideout, but we're still a few miles out...."

Unless something happens along the way, Tynthis will take the time to carefully weave a path to the hideout, carrying someone along the way if necessary, and helping get everyone settled in and warmed up with whatever safe means the hideout has.

After everyone is in and taking a breather, Tynthis will slump down with his back against the wall.

"So....you guys must be resistance if you're busting into a Fist stronghold to rescue someone, with a small group as yours, and without setting off any alarms. Excellent work."

It's several hours yet, but after a grueling march through the cold night, you reach a small clearing, with a hunter's lodge nearby. At Tynthis' signal, two bushes rise up around you, and you see the camouflaged forms of a young half-orc woman and a svirfneblin fighter, guarding this outpost. Silently, they usher you inside before taking up their positions again.

The interior of the lodge is sparse, but hospitable enough to warm up and get some rest. The lodge currently stays empty, likely meaning that the Craban was out, raiding supply lines nearby.

Parker sets Twitch down gently. Then virtually collapses next to the gnome

History: 6

Murph barely has the energy to give a double take at the svirfneblin fighter as he stumbles inside, but he does. He drops his pack and collapses to the ground, curling up in a ball and prepared to sleep for a week.