Killilli’s Dragon Heist

Lyss, you don’t catch Nevercott as you leave. But he did seem pretty generous, so surely he wouldn’t want it back right? Besides it doesn’t look like it would fit him and that pastry is preeeeeety flaky so there are a few little marks of jam and flour. It’s not massively noticeable though.

Kerri, Aimee, Edvord and Aldryk hang back as Lyss and Cico sneak ahead through the city streets, taking cover in the crowds. Lyss, could you also make a stealth check pls?

Stealth: 22

((If at Disadvantage due to dress: 13))

Cico and Lyss discretely follow the blue robed figure through the streets. Crossing over into the Sea Ward, the buildings around seem to become older in style, yet grander. This place feels like old money, a far cry from the trendy up and coming North Ward. The rest of you follow tentatively at a safe distance.

Heading down Ivory street, an alley to the right lies between two windowless buildings. Cobblestones leading up to it have a blue hue to them. It seems like this figure is heading towards the alley. Before heading in, he takes a quick glance around, and you catch a glimpse of his face. Elderly, yet firm and cocky, his pointed beard is grey yet well groomed. Perception 15

Lyss fits in very well in her fancy dress here, almost everybody in the street is wearing something similar. The old blue robed man locks eyes with Cico for a second, giving him a sly wink before dipping into the alley out of sight.

Lyss is well familiar with backways around the city, if she knows where (or if) this alley connects, she'll duck away from Cico and scurry to the other end of the alley and wait nearby to see if he emerges and she can pick him up again.

Lyss has been warned to stay clear of this alley, it's a dead end and anybody who has tried to take a shortcut through it has failed to return.

Lyss grabs Cico's sleeve. "That's a bad alley. People don't come back, so either he just goofed and is gonna get gone'd too, or he's who's been doing it."

Edvord continues to hang back with his brother, Kerrie, and Aimee. He walks gingerly on his arcane staff, pretending to need it for balance. As Lyss and Cico are eyeing the alleyway, the mage stops, mutters a few words underneath his breath, waves his arcane staff slightly, and casts message towards Cico. "This is Edvord. We should establish a signal for the group to hang back and a second signal incase you need assistance. Over."

Aimee looks around and yawns happily.

"I always had to be in bed way before now! Nights are great! What you saying there Eddy? Oh, tell them to scream if they need help! That's a great signal!"

Cico turns at the sound of Edvord's voice in his head and listens for a moment before turning back to Lyss.

"It is unlikely that man alone has killed everyone who enters the alley," Cico says to Lyss. "But, yes, it could hide the entrance to any number of organizations that make this city home."

He waves the others over.

"Subterfuge is no longer necessary," Cico says to the others. "The man in blue spotted me. And he is confident that he will not be caught or found."

Cico relays what Lyss has said about the alley. And then he looks down at the cobblestones, turning his head to the side a little to catch some light reflecting.

"Blue robe. Blue cobblestones." 

Cico steps to the entrance to the alley and looks into it without stepping in, looking for obvious traps.

Perception: 15  

"Ooh! Good point! We went in one of those the other day, but we came back out, cause we're awesome."

Cico, as you approach the 10ft wide alley, you notice the cobblestones seem to glitter as if made from some kind of gem. The sandstone walls of the buildings each side of the alley are 20ft high. As you come around, you see a tin sign on the western wall with the words “BLUE ALLEY” painted on. 

A few feet in, a podium juts up at the alley entrance, it seems to be made of the same material as the cobblestones. A thick book with blue binding rests on the podium, an ink pot beside it with a quill sticking out of it.

Aldrik nods as Cico explains. "Well, something fishy certainly has been going on here. And I have to say, my sense of curiosity is certainly piqued... Perhaps we find what we seek, though it sounds like it might just be for favor from Mirt and all his connections instead of running a tab for the bar, if Nevercott's offer is genuine..."

Aldrik had been unsure how to take that particular bit of news. If the girls got their funding elsewhere, he supposed his offer to them ended up being for naught. 

"You can still come and boss people around Aldi, if you want! I'm not very good at that!"

Cico looks back at Lyss.

"When you were warned not to go into this alley," Cico starts, "did they tell you anything else?"

Cico nods at Aldrik.

"I am curious as well. A book in an alley," he starts again then pauses. "Trap, message, test?"

Cico steps into the alley and looks at the book without touching anything.

"Just kind of street kid smarts. Don't go there, cause you won't come back."

The book seems like some sort of guest book. It’s left open on the most recent page, a list of names across it’s pages . The most recent of which is Oeldeforth Joeldeforth. Each name has a line struck through it.

Aldrik scans the book for Old Charlie's name. 

Aimee pokes the book.

"Maybe we should write a name in there? Like a made up one! Maimee Smaimee!"

Aldrik scans the book, finding the name of his peer Simply written as “Old Charlie” with his name struck out. Aimee's poking doesn't awaken anything.

At the back wall of the alley it splits into two branches heading left and right. There are arrows painted above a mural, the one facing left labelled "Gold" and to the right "Silver". The mural below seems to depicted a collage of a myriad of violent deaths by traps. You can make out spinning scythes quartering people, ashy immolated bodies lying beside pillars of fire and piles of contorted corpses in spike pits. 

Aimee, are you signing the book with a fake name?