Jahren briefly tries to decipher the various characters in the little black book but decides to save it for later.  The half elf pockets the book, the coin and the gems and gets ready to depart, glancing at the drawer he was unable to open one last time.  Before leaving he decides to have some fun and grabs paper and quill.  In the broken into cabinet he leaves a note.  "The Lady accepts your compensation for furs not delivered, and expects improved cooperation in this area going forward.  She sees no need for further word nor warning on the matter."

Jahren then uses Dimension Door to join Jezun and Chen in the alleyway.  The bard shrugs and says to his friends "well, found a few copper at least, if we have any expenses to tend to"  before casting Seeming on them all to disguise them as drunkards heading home from the taverns and wandering out into the street.

Jezun, Jahren, and Chen, along with their prisoner make their way through the streets of the city in the middle of the night with little trouble. However, their destination remains a mystery. They all look at each other. Ezhia speaks up, “where to now?”

((Fianna will be unattuning from her Air Steppers and stowing them in her equipment, attuning to the Bracer of Defense. Necklace of Adaptation stowed as well but open to anyone with need or desire... Or to be sold at some point.))

The human drunkard that is Chen looks to the others hopefully and says: My tummy is rumbling. Is anywhere still open this time of night?

"I love food," Jezun says, with an affected hiccup. "But maybe we find something we can carry in our hands so we can get somewhere more comfy?" He glances at Ezhia.

It's very late, almost early really....somewhere near 4am. A dim light is beginning to show in the eastern sky. You all realize you're quite tired.  Glances at Ezhia and questions about where to go and the man raises his hands, "Hey, I'm all for a good night rest, I won't cause a ruckus at an Inn if that's what you want.  After seeing your powerful magic, it's obvious there's nowhere I can go to hide..."

The three of you head to an Inn, finding your favorite, the Diamond in the Dung. A large room is acquired with two beds and the four of you head there. Ezhia plays his part and even embellishes, acting a little drunk on the way up and muttering about enjoying a good sleep. 

In the room, Jezun seems least affected by the lack of sleep.  Clear eyed and bushy tailed he takes first watch. Ezhia absently takes his place in a corner, closing his eyes and dozing off while laying on the floor. The morning comes before Jezun's watch is even half over...and the group sleep in through to noon.  Still, with no word from the others you imagine they're still relaxing in Mirica's private little paradise. Regardless, Jahren attempts a sending to Fianna, knowing there is a small chance the message could get lost.  Waiting....he receives no reply however. 

A good helping of food is delivered to the room, clearly ordered by Chen, including a round of the minty julep drinks that sparkle with magic for a few seconds before going dark. The group enjoys a hearty breakfast of bacon, ham, eggs, bread, cheese, butter, and orange juice. 

Jezun marvels at the drinks in the morning, sipping happily, and amused when they disappear. He looks at his stomach to see if they manifest there.

After the meal he looks up. "I'm sorry but I'm not sure what our next step is," he whispers to Chen and Jahren. "Do we try the house? Or is there another meeting spot?"

He will also, during downtime, ask what languages everyone speaks. Then he'll delight in being able to understand them.

Chen finds the little monk amusing, and is happy to indulge his new abilities. First Chen tries a bit of Elvish: Ydych chi'n gwybod iaith y Coblynnod? And then tries to stump Jezun with the more difficult Draconic: Som si istý, že dračí jazyk nepoznáš.  

As for where to go next, Chen isn't sure. He knows they had problems last time they were at Toc's house, but assumes all the enemies are dealt with and that the house wouldn't therefore be safe to return to. And if not, then he figures the three of them would be able to determine whether their friends were there or whether it was otherwise occupied. He suggests getting there ahead of them and perhaps preparing a meal ready for their return...

With Jahren's spell still wrapping the four of them, masking an otherwise painfully obvious collection of a half-elf, a monk, a gold dragon kin, and a snake eyed assassin, you make your way through the streets of Hillsfar still looking like a collection of four drunk men. The mid-day streets are crowded so the trip takes a bit longer but you eventually reach 2nd Thompson street. You round the corner to find a view of Toc's house a half way down the block. Men in helmets with red plumes stand outside the house. The front door is open. If the others are in there, then they've been captured by the red plumes.

Jezun looks at Jahren and Chen, then up to the roof, then back to Jahren and Chen, offering to go sneak in and have a look.

While Jezun has a close look around, and assuming Jahren might like to chat up the guards, Chen takes Ezhia and goes closer to the house. He stands nearby watching as though they are a couple of local curious rubber-neckers wondering what the fuss is about, but Chen will be looking and listening to see if he can learn what is going on...

Perception: 16

Jezun seems to get the nod from Chen which is more than he needs as he scampers off towards the house.  

(Roll Athletics : DC 12 to climb up onto the roof.)

(Roll Stealth : DC 18 to do so unnoticed.)

(Roll Sleight of Hand : DC 12 to open an upper window to get in.)

Jezun should be able to walk-dash straight up the side of house, thanks to his unarmored movement feature, but here's an athletics check to see if he doesn't fall flat on his face: 20

Stealth: 29

Sleight of hand: 27

Jezun reaches the top of the roof in a flash, and as silent as fog. He glances through an attic window, seeing a couple beds, some stored furniture, and not a soul around. There is a latch lock on the inside of the window, and a wooden bar in the frame, but he pulls out a sheath of paper and quickly enough the window is swinging open with both pushed out of the way.  The bar he flicks up in the air, pushes open the window, and grabs the bar as it's still in the air before it can clatter to the floor. Like a wraith he moves into the upstairs, glancing down and noting the placement of nails on beams he moves across the room avoiding squeaking planks. His boots silence even the lightest touch or scuff to almost nothing. 

He reaches the stairs and glances down to the 2nd floor from the attic.  It appears empty to he moves down. At the end of the hallway is another staircase leading downstairs where he can hear voices. It sounds like a couple of bored Red Plumes chatting idly. "No no no you fool, Monica isn't gunna like that. Ya gotta really woo her...ya know?"  "No. I really never know what the **** yer talkin bout."  "Look look, it's like this, all confident and like...in charge...you just be like, 'you're my woman...come with me.' ....and she'd be like...." 

Jezun rolls his eyes and sits quietly listening for other voices.  (13)  Downstairs, down a level, he hears two other voices talking. 

"...could appear at any time."   "I disagree, it's not a real risk. No army is going to hide in this house. Be patient. We watch and learn."  "Any magician powerful enough to create this doesn't even have to use the front door. It took you hours to even figure out what this was all about."  "Yes it did. Well, keep a watch on the front anyway."  "So we're just going to what, leave this place?"  "I'll have Lucious keep an eye on the inside. You have your men watch the outside. They see anything, they send a message, they DO NOT engage. I don't need dead Red Plumes on our hands." "This is too risky, better to destroy it all."  "Yes, I understand what you'd prefer, but that's not what we're going to do." "What about this fog?"  "There are simple solutions. Leave the door at the top open."  "Fine, are we clearing out?"  "Immediately."  "This is stupid..."   (the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs)

Outside, Chen sees that there are at least two Red Plumes inside. Other neighbors are around gawking, so Chen, Jahren and Ezhia don't stand out.  Before Jahren has much of a chance to do any digging with the guards at the front, it seems they begin cleaning up.  Sure enough, fifteen minutes later and three Red Plumes, and a man wearing official government robes leave the house. They overhear the man in the robes turn to the guards out front, "Stay here until Squad Mage Lucious shows up. Stay with him until he's done. Then return for new orders." 

During their free time Jahren offers to talk to Jezun in Celestial, Draconic, Dwarvish, Elvish, Giant, and Sylvan.

(show off!)

Chen turns to Jahren and asks: Do you think perhaps the others have been arrested?

(You can interrupt this if you like, but I'm going to push on....)

Jezun has the house to himself for a short time. He quickly moves about silently. As far as he can tell its exactly the same as when the group left it, except that the oil on the basement floor has been cleaned up. He moves around the house, but there is no sign of anyone else being there so he clambers out a window and returns to the others who have now stopped just down the street a ways as to not be too conspicuous.  You wait. People make their way to and fro around the city as normal for any other summer day. This small street of houses is a bit quieter, but the smell of saw dust and the sound of sawing and hammering floats over the houses at the end of the street that back onto the shipyards. The sea air flows past pushed across the city by a firm northern wind....cold even in summer. A man walks by muttering to his companion, "Gunna be a storm tonight....ya can smell it in the air ya can...." 

Your attention is drawn back to Toc's house as a soldier wearing leather armor, but lacking the red plume, approaches. He speaks briefly to the two guards and then enters the home. Less than a minute later he emerges and the two guards close the front door and the trio walk away from the house. 

Jahren, Jezun, Chen and Ezhia stand in the street, at a loss for where their allies could be.....perhaps still in Mirica's safe place?  Perhaps prisoners?  Somewhere else? Fianna had mentioned the Fey.  

Assuming they don't return in the next day, what's the plan? 

Chen munches quietly on a few handfuls of dried salted peas, but when they run out he feels a bit restless. Well, gentlemen, shall we make ourselves useful? Toc said he might take Lacy to SinSin's house, so we could look there. Otherwise let's try to find this Bolis chap at the Tethered Net.

Wherever they decide to go, Chen will be keeping a sharp eye out for any street vendors selling pork products. He's had a craving since the warehouse...

"So they must have either freed the people in the basement, or taken them. But the house is empty. I honestly don't know what we're supposed to do next. Is there a way to get to this 'Fay,' or talk to them if they're there? If not, I guess we could stop by SinSin's. I wish I had more answers. You folks lead an exciting life, is it always like this? Jahren, do you have any allies we could visit?" Jezun says, again trying to stay unheard by Ezhia, still not sure what to do with the prisoner/new friend.

The four folk head to SinSin's place in the meantime, while Jezun, Chen, and Jahren consider what to do.  They arrive at his dojo and find him stretching there. He's pleased to see each of you, after you reveal who you are beneath your illusions. "No, I'm sorry, I haven't heard from any of you since you left with Master Jezun. Who's this guy?" he says after Ezhia. 

Presuming you tell him, he says, "Well, look, if you need to stash this guy somewhere, feel free to leave him with me. I'm fine watching over him."  He glances appraisingly at Ezhia, then nods to himself, "I don't think he'll cause me much trouble if he decides to get uppity." 

Ezhia shrugs to the group, "That's not necessary, if you guys want you can just let me go. I'll go hang out at the Diamond in the Dung, and wait there for you. I'm sure you can find me if I try to run, so I'm happy to wait by myself there." He sounds very sincere about his offer.