Fantasy Dragon Heist (Completed)

[Yokai]

Search the corpses.
​

Iselas blanched at the sight of the corpses strewn across the floor, actually taken off-guard by the sudden and grotesque imagery. It took a full second for her to compose herself -- one which turned into an even longer second where she genuinely asked herself what was even going on in this house -- before she finally stepped closer.

She'd have to search the bodies for some sort of clue as to who they were, what they were doing here, why they were dead, or really any sort of answer in regards to what was going on here. Crouching down beside them she purposefully tried not to breathe through her nose -- enhanced senses were only useful when they weren't gross -- and tried to treat the bodies with some respect.

 

[ArcticFox]

You don't find anything that might identify the dead men, but it's safe to deduce that they are the two servants of the Villa. You find a ring of keys at the belt of the man in the butler's livery.

"Gods..." Renaer mutters, placing a hand over his mouth. He quickly backs out of the pantry.

"Take the keys." Amiri says, turning toward the remaining door.

- Take the keys and proceed.
- Leave the keys and proceed.

 

[Yokai]

Take the keys and proceed.​

Keys in hand Iselas stood up from the two bodies, turning around in time to catch Renaer's horror and Amiri's indifference. It was almost strange to see someone react to a corpse. She couldn't imagine a life where death and violence weren't a constant anymore. Iselas nodded to Amiri as she passed, sending Renaer a concerned glance before she stepped over to the other door, trying the handle before she tried the key.

 

[ArcticFox]

You open the door, no need to use the key, and enter into a huge room that has to be the main hall of the first floor.

Two iron chandeliers hang from the dark mahogany ceiling above a long dining table carved from red larchwood. Chairs surround the table, with a particularly tall and elaborate chair at each end. Lining the wood-panelled walls are tapestries and locked wooden cabinets that contain fine dishes, silverware, and candlesticks. A fireplace with a black marble mantelpiece has a framed family portrait mounted above it. It depicts a handsome, richly dressed pair, and three children along with a proud-looking hound.

One thing you cannot is miss is that the floor is strewn with bodies. Two thuggish looking men holding bloody maces stand over them, not looking in your direction yet. The sound of fighting can be heard coming from the top of a wide staircase in the northwest corner.

There are two set of doors on the opposite side, and the staircase that leads to the upper level to your right.

- Sneak past to the doors (roll d20 for stealth check).
- Sneak past to the stairs (roll d20 for stealth check).
- Attack the men.

 

[Yokai]

Sneak past to the doors (rolled 6).
​

There was a massacre behind those closed doors. Bloodied corpses littered what once would have been polished and sparkling-clean hardwood floors. What would have once been someone's home. It sounded like there was more fighting coming from upstairs and Iselas made the swift decision to sneak past the two thugs, heading towards the doors on the opposite side of the room. She'd been expecting an assassin not an entire army; she was have tempted to gather her companions and escape. But, unfortunately, there was only one way that they'd find Regongar or the stone, and that was forwards.

 

[ArcticFox]

You try slipping past the guards, however, you slip on the blood spilled over the floorboards and let out an unintentional yelp. Amiri bumps into you, almost toppling you over, then reaches to steady you.

It's too late, though, as the two black-clad men turn toward you, their expressions surprised, but it takes them only a second to realise that you are not supposed to be there. Then they run at you. They are both Zentharim, you now see, their tattoos visible on their wrists as their raise their clubs in order to strike. One of them goes for Amiri, while the other is onto you. They are too close to be able to wield a bow.

- Attack with your knife (roll d20 for strength check).
- Dodge (roll d20 for agility check).

 

[Yokai]

Dodge (rolled 8).
​

Such a simple mistake and their cover was already blown. Iselas barely managed to right herself in time -- with the assistance of Amiri -- before the thugs were suddenly upon them. She threw herself to the side then, attempting to avoid the blow that could kill or seriously harm her.

The fact that they were Zentharim made her want to call out, to tell them that they were only looking for a friend of theirs, but then she remembered the corpses. The massacre of a seemingly defenseless noble family. Iselas wasn't a fan of nobles at the best of times but nobody deserved to be slaughtered in their own home like animals.

 

[ArcticFox]

You manage to move out of the way, but the swinging club catches your shoulder, bruising it slightly. It's not a serious wound.

On her part, Amiri parries the blow, catching the club easily on her huge sword and pushing the attacker away with sheer strength. He backs away, stumbling, and she follows with a heavy slash that almost splits him in half. It's a gruesome sight that makes Renaer gag. The other Zenth hesitates, but then goes for Amiri as well.

- Let her handle it.
- Attack the thug from behind.
- Warn Amiri.

 

[Yokai]

Attack the thug from behind.
​

Somehow she managed to escape the blow relatively unscathed, though she winced at the brushing glance of his weapon. Still, with their back now turned to her Iselas wasted no time in launching herself at the thug. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to prepare her crossbow or to hitch an arrow, so she had to settle instead for withdrawing her shortsword and swinging it down between their shoulders.

 

[ArcticFox]

Your blade strikes between his shoulderblades and the thug slumps to the ground with a muffled yelp. Amiri nods her thanks.

Renaer takes your hand and pulls you through the closes door. Amiri follows, closing it behind her. There's no one in the room, thankfully, except more dead men. These ones are in guard uniforms with colours of purple and grey. They are not of the City Watch or Guard, but an independent force, most likely serving the Gralhunds. The two that were in there were killed by knives to the back.

The room is furnished for comfort and contains dainty chairs, a chaise longue, a wine cabinet, and framed paintings of various members of presumably the Gralhund family.

"The Zentharim slaughtered everyone." Renaer says, looking shocked.

Amiri doesn't say anything, but it's clear that she's worried.

- Explore the room next door.
- Go up the staircase.

 

[Yokai]

Go up the staircase.
​

Once safely inside the room Iselas took a few moments to recollect herself and to bring her perspective back. Zentharim members were here, they had done this, and this was where they'd been this entire time. She could only hope that Regongar wasn't caught up in all of this. The half-orc often pretended like he didn't care about doing the right thing, but Iselas didn't believe that. She couldn't.

"I heard fighting upstairs," Iselas admitted once she'd grounded herself. "I think we're going to run into them sooner or later. Might as well do it sooner and while we can still help someone." She glanced over her two companions, checking that they were both uninjured and ready for what came next. "Shall we?"

 

[ArcticFox]

You climb up toward the sound of fighting and don't know where to look at first.

A battle rages between several Zhents and house guards, in the foyer just off the stairs and the floor is strewn with dead bodies. Lying on the floor are the corpses and weapons of six guards wearing House Gralhund colours over chain shirts and two Zhents in black leather armor.

Three Zentharim members are engaged in combat with four house guards and they look to be losing. They are trying to get to the master bedroom to your right.

Doors to the master bedroom stand open and you hear someone shouting, "The City Watch is on the way!"

A door to your left is ajar. Beyond it, you can hear someone putting a boot to another door.

- Help the guards.
- Help the Zentharim.
- Go to the master bedroom.
- Go to toward the sound of someone trying to break down the door.
- Something else.

 

[Yokai]

Go toward the sound of someone trying to break down the door.
​

Chaos met their group at the top of the stairs, spilling out along the hallway and into the foyer beyond. Fighting was everywhere and, when Iselas failed to recognise anyone, she decided to ignore the temptation to join in. Instead she turned her head to the side, following the sound of a boot against wood. The City Watch would be there soon and Iselas didn't want to hang around when they did arrive.

 

[ArcticFox]

When you go through the partially open door, you see a tall man in dark clothes trying to break down the door on the opposite wall. He is ramming against them with his foot, angrily growling. He pays no attention to you.

To the right, just next to you, is another door, beyond which you hear muffled crying. The door opens suddenly and out walks Regongar. He looks at you, then at Amiri, eyes wide.

"What the hell!" Amiri shouts, breaking the standstill and rushes at Regongar.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Regongar back away, raising his hands in defense.

The figure at the door turns to face you then. His face is badly burnt on one side and he looks injured, yet somehow still extremely dangerous.

"Who the fuck are you?" He growls angrily, but you can see that his gaze is faltering. There's three of you and one of him and he is running out of time. Regongar and Amiri stand very close and Amiri looks like she's about to hit him.

- Defuse the situation between Regongar and Amiri.
- Attack the burned man.
- Talk to him.

 

[Yokai]

Talk to him.
​

Iselas' heart may have actually dropped into her stomach in disappointment at the sight of Regongar walking out unscathed from among this chaos and death. The idea that he'd been apart of this felt a betrayal and she didn't bother to stop Amiri from charging. The barbarian woman's outrage closely resembled her own and Iselas averted her gaze, instead looking at the actual threat in the room.

"Not now, you two!" Iselas hissed to Amiri and Regongar, subtly angling herself between them and the stranger.

"We aren't anyone of importance," She responed to the burned man, immediately assuming him to be their assassin. "Are you Urstul Floxin, by any chance?"

 

[ArcticFox]

Instead of answering to you, the assassin turns to Regongar with a short command, "Deal with them or don't bother returning." Then he bursts through the window, breaking it open.

At the same time, Amiri's fist connects with Regongar's jaw, sending him into the door behind him and then through. Screams and cries of panic explode from the inside and behind groaning half-orc you can see two little boys, one slightly older than the other, holding hands, huddled in a corner.

Regongar quickly turns toward then, "Shh, it's okay, these are my friends. You are in no danger." He says, strangely gentle.

"What are you trying to do here?" Renaer asks, stepping by angry Amiri.

"I was trying to assess the situation. Everyone was called suddenly to participate in this huge mission, I thought it might be a lead to whatever happened in Trollskull." He says, gently patting the head of the older boy, then turning to the kids. "Stay here, okay? The guards will come soon and the bad men will all be caught."

Regongar then ushers you all out of he kids' room and points to the door that Urstul was trying to break.

"The lord of the house is hiding in there. I have to get out of here fast. The City Watch won't look kind on anyone wearing black tonight."

"You've killed so many tonight." Renaer gives him an accusing look.

"Not only me, but yes." Regongar nods, not trying to deny or justify it. "I am a Zenth. I might still be one if I think of a good excuse for not killing the three of you."

- Let Regongar go.
- Ask him to help.
- Detain him.
- Attack him.

 

[Yokai]

Let Regongar go.​

The sudden image of two children huddled together, their hands held tight and eyes bright with tears, was an uncomfortably familiar sight. One that caused Iselas heart to clench painfully in her chest. She looked away when Regongar reassured them, his voice uncommonly gentle, and didn't look back until Renaer had begun to speak. Silently she slipped closer to Amiri for comfort, the sense of Regongar's betrayal still humming angrily beneath her skin. However, that didn't stop her from reaching up to unclasp her cloak from around her neck.

"Just... get out of here," Iselas said, throwing the cloak in Regongar's direction; at least it wasn't black and wouldn't identify him as a Zenth on sight. "I... don't want to do something I'll regret." Though she couldn't be sure whether she'd regret this either. Instead of dwelling on it she ignored him, nodding to Renaer.

"Ren, you want to stay with these kids? I'm going to check out that door." She offered, glancing up to gauge Amiri's reaction; she wasn't sure what the other woman wanted to do but she also wasn't sure if she would stop her from punching Regongar again. In the mean time, Iselas did have the keys that she'd picked from the corpse downstairs, hopefully this was the door it opened.

 

[ArcticFox]

Regongar catches your cloak and gives you a casual salute as he follows through the now broken window. Amiri doesn't comment on it, but her fists clench in anger.

"I will." Renaer agrees to your proposition and slowly approaches the two kids, trying his best not to seem intimidating, which isn't difficult for him.

You try the key and unlock the door, however you cannot open them no matter how hard you push. Something's been placed on them from the other side.

- Push the door (roll d20 for strength check).
- Ask Amiri to push.
- Leave it.

 

[Yokai]

Ask Amiri to push.​

The lack of remorse shown by Regongar felt personal somehow, and Iselas' jaw clenched in a rare demonstration of anger. With movements slightly stilted she retreated back to the locked door in the other room, leaving Renaer to handle the children. When the door failed to open after she'd turned the key -- and made a few weak attempts at pushing -- Iselas turned to face Amiri. In terms of strength she already knew who was much better equipped for the task.

"Could you get this, please?" Iselas asked. "I think there's something blocking it from the other side." A part of her felt guilty for asking this of her companion, especially when she was already in such a bad mood. Iselas could understand. Amiri had gone from worrying about Regongar -- and vehemently denying that concern -- to being furious at him in a matter of minutes. She could understand if she didn't agree with her letting him go, but Iselas was a firm believer in dealing with that later.

 

[ArcticFox]

Amiri seems to let out all her anger on that door. Getting a good distance away from it and then running to slam her shoulder against it, she burst through in one push, toppling the wardrobe that was blocking it over.

On the other side you see a man dressed in fine silks and holding a rapier, looking at the two of you in surprise that quickly turns into horror. He tosses the rapier aside and kneels on the floor, prostrating himself in front of you.

"Whoever you are, don't kill me!" He exclaims quickly.

- Interrogate him about the Zentharim (roll d20 for intimidation check).
- Interrogate him about Urstul (roll d20 for intimidation check).
- Interrogate him about the Stone of Golorr (roll d20 for intimidation check).
- Interrogate him about the nimblewright (roll d20 for intimidation check).

 

[Yokai]

Interrogate him about the Stone of Golorr (rolled 9).​

Iselas wondered what sight they must have made; two women -- one a muscular human with a fuck-off sized sword and the other an undoubtedly sneaky looking half-elf -- both of them the only thing standing between him and the Zentharim. When he threw himself to his knees something in her recoiled slightly. This was such a bizarre situation.

"We aren't going to kill you," Iselas said casually, crouching down to his level to avoid raising her voice. Anger and bitterness were still present in her face, and for once she didn't have to fake the dangerous thunder cloud that was her expression. "But they might." Her gaze flickered to the side, indicating that the Zentharim were still around.

"I imagine they're after something... the Stone of Golorr, perhaps? Or are they just slaughtering you because you know something you shouldn't?" Iselas listed off, attempting to read the man's face; though it was difficult when he looked so scared. "Where is this stone?"

 

[ArcticFox]

"I don't know. It's not here." Lord Gralhund says quickly. Renaer runs up to you and peaks into the room.

"The children are fine, they are not hurt. Just a little scared." He says.

"Thank the gods." Lord Gralhund says, then hiss eyes look past you and settle on Renaer and he flinches.

"What?" Renaer gives him a suspicious look.

"The Zentharim were supposed to get it for us. We bankrolled everything they did, including your capture Neverember." He says in a tone barely audible. He looks to be completely resigned now, perhaps remorseful about his actions. "They were too slow with it and my wife was getting frustrated. She made a mistake."

The sound of fighting from the hallway has subsided. You can only hear voices now and footsteps getting closer to you. You hear a female voice among them, stern and commanding.

- Press Lord Gralhund for more info.
- Get out before the Watch arrives.

 

[Yokai]

Get out before the Watch arrives.
​

"We need to go," Iselas murmured, straightening up from her crouch as she glanced over her shoulder to where the voices and footsteps were drawing nearer. When she looked back to the man her gaze was cold. "Your children are just through there, I imagine they'd need their father right about now." Backing out of the small room she glanced over to the window and nodded to her companions. "Are you two ready to leave? We don't really want to get caught up in this mess." Still, she had to give them the option because who knows?

 

[ArcticFox]

"Let's go." Renaer says eagerly. Amiri nods as well, none of them wants to be caught up with the Watch.

You go through the conveniently broken window and follow the shadows of the Villa until you are over the wall and across the street. From a sufficiently secluded alley you watch as the force of officers arrives. Two familiar investigators gallop in on their horses, followed by a sizeable force of twenty constables. You hear a squawk and see three griffon riders fly overhead, watching the area carefully.

Your nimblewright detector does not react to the surroundings. The Watch will take over the neighbourhood soon and perhaps it is best not to linger close.

- Go home.
- Observe the Watch.

 

[Yokai]

Observe the Watch.
​

"What is the protocol for such a situation?" Iselas murmured to her companions, her voice feather soft and light. A noblewoman was dead, a massacre had occurred, and the Stone of Golorr was missing. There was danger in them lingering for too long but she genuinely wanted to catch a glimpse of what the City Watch would do.