Kraw found his voice and his convictions. He goes to the Field Marshall and says "I know I have no right to ask this. But my people have long been scorned because people assume that birdmen are scavengers. I see this woman's situation as being similar. Perhaps she has been brandex a criminal because people need someone to blame. I cannot in good conscience participate in this unless you can promise me that she will not be tortured. And that I might be present when she is interrogated so i can see for myself. I'm sorry, but I feel strongly about this. If you cannot give me that assurance, I fear I must decline this mission."

Figus steps up and puts a hand gently on Kraw "Our job is to save her from injustice. If we do it right, she will not face that. If we fail ... We got a better chance with you. She has a better chance with you on this mission.

Kyra waits to hear how the Marshall will respond. She is more than a little concerned about this possibility herself, though she acknowledges that Figus has a point as well.

Ayeesha shrugged her shoulders and waited, confused.

"They're going to kill her, we're all clear on that yeah? When we bring her in. She's not a criminal, she's a rutting king slayer!!! I mean she's been accused of killing the king for Gorum's sake, but ain't like there's a lot of difference. The Queen says she did it, she's gonna hang. Ain't going to be no slap on the wrist. Might be a show trial or somethin, but kingslayers don't just walk free."

Cressida gave a nod to Kraw.

"My mission here is to see that justice, proper justice, is carried out. I have never seen the need for torture nor would I ever issue such an order. Frankly I do not think she is guilty so it would be doubly unconscionable for me to allow that to take place."

Her features darken and she gives out a sigh.

"However it is also my duty to carry out any lawful order issued to me by the crown in pursuit of protecting the city. If such an order came down I would fight tooth and nail against it however I would not be able to stop the Queen or one of her lackies from seizing the prisoner and doing with her what they will."

She gets a pleading look in her eyes as she looks to Kraw and the others.

"Please help me on this. Her best chance at survival would be for us to take her into protective custody quietly such that nobody else knows she has been secured. Then we can conduct a proper investigation for ourselves and have the answers we need to defend her if she turns out to be innocent. And if she turns out to be guilty we can ensure that her stay is humane and her sentence swift. Otherwise what else is there to be done? If I knew her innocence for sure we could get her out of the city but she could be guilty. It doesn't seem likely but it is possible. Otherwise without the aid of the guard what chance does she stand? Trial by mob? The mercies of the Hellknights? Or the Queen's own agents where I can no longer use my position to protect her."

She leans back and gestures for Kraw to speak.

"But please, if you have a better idea I would love to hear it."

Kyra speaks out, though she is clearly uncomfortable doing so.

"I agree that us getting to her before she is torn apart by the crowd or intimately introduced to Hellknight's methods of policing would be her best bet at this point. But, even if we manage to do this quietly, how likely is the fact that we have her to remain a secret? Guardsmen are people after all, and people talk, especially when tempted with large amount of gold. If the queen finds out we have her, she might demand to turn her over, innocent or not. Couldn't we stash her somewhere more... discreet instead? A safe house or a cell somewhere in the city. At least until we look into this mess and decide what to do with her? And you could then truthfully say that she is not in your prison if asked."

Kraw also looks uncomfortable, but eventually nods. "Better she is held while making an investigation rather than suffer either the Hellknights or the mob. And we are likely the best agents available for the job. Perhaps someday someone can explain to me how the Hellknights came to represent a policing force in Korvosa....but I will help take her in."

"You had me at please," she smiled at the Field Marshall, ready to do what was asked. She just needed to convince her group.

She shook her head at Kyra's suggestion. "I like my neck exactly as long as it is right now. Not planning on getting it stretched out in a hangman's noose for harboring and aiding the rutting king slayer. No, the safest place for this woman is with the Field Marshall. I trust her. She's going to do what she can to get to the bottom of this all."

"Besides, you sure we can find any place discreet enough that the Hell Knights, the guard the Sable company, hell even the Cerulean Society all of them won't be able to find it? Willing to bet your life on that?"

She shook her head again.

"No, I'm in with the original plan, find this woman and deliver her to the guard, it's the only way. Sounds like you're with me too Kraw. Hope you can help us Kyra."

"I am certainly still with you on this. I was not proposing that we hide the suspect from the Marshal, merely that she is held somewhere less obvious, to give us more time to figure out what to do with her. But if the Marshal believes her stay here can remain a secret, that is good enough to me."

She did ask us to do this quietly, so I guess she must have some confidence in keeping a prisoner a secret.

Entering the Midland ends up being relatively easy as long as pains are taken to avoid the main streets. Several times, the party is detoured due to large angry mobs, patrols of the Order of the Mob, and, in at least one occasion, an actual clash between the two.

By taking alleys and side streets, and in the case of the small riot an entire detour, the group is able to make its way to the directions given by the Field Marshall.

When they arrive at the tenement in which Trinia is said to live, they find the place in a densely built section of the city, a place where, at ground level, direct sunlight is a rarity. Above, jury-rigged catwalks, overhanging roofs, lines of laundry, and homemade bridges of rope and boards create a cluttered tangle, a multi-level mess of gutters, upper floors, and rooftops.

This is the slum above, a place known as the Shingles. In many ways, the Shingles is like its own sub-ward of the city of Korvosa. Here, in shanties built atop roofs, on the upper floors of otherwise abandoned tenements, and amid jungles of chimneys, peaked roofs, and eroding gargoyles, are vagabonds, thieves, monsters, and perils to match those found in the most dangerous slums. Stirges haunt gutters here, as do nests of imps. Pseudodragons lair here too, although in their frenzy to keep the imp population under control, the little dragons often cause nearly as many problems as do the tiny outsiders. Criminals use the Shingles as a highway to move about unseen by the guard. Worst of all are the chokers, hideous aberrations with long boneless arms who have taken to the Shingles with a tenacious fecundity that has resisted all attempts to date at eradication. Stories of chokers wending arms down through chimneys or upper windows are common, and serve as the primary reason most citizens avoid climbing above the second floor in regions the Shingles overshadow. This is where Trinia lives, and this is why the mob hasn’t found her yet.

Trinia’s home is in an old tenement, three floors high and containing dozens of other flats. Children play on the street as the mob and violence haven't reached her yet while concerned parents keep a close eye on them, ready to scoop them up at the first sign of trouble. The directions given to the party puts Trinia's flat on the third floor, southwest corner. A central staircase rises up in the middle of the tenement allowing access to the upper floors but given the verticality of the Shingles there are numerous other ways up as well.

Kraw looks up with his low-light vision, trying to ascertain any dangers to an outside-climbing approach. "If Trinia lives here, 5 gold says she has a few possible escape routes planned out. Best bet is to try an approach that she won't see coming....like up the side of the building."

23:51, Today: Kraw rolled 14 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 4.  Perception .
This message was last edited by the player at 06:52, Thu 03 Oct 2019.

Kyra picks up a small piece of a crumbling brick from a wall, closes her eyes and concentrates. For several moments she is silent as she seems to be listening to something nobody else can hear.

"Lovely place," she muttered, looking up into the shingles.

"I agree. I'm not much of a sneak though. She might have friends watching the streets as well, or be watching herself," she continued.

"We shouldn't stand around long. She might already know we're coming."

Figus looks at the tenements and considers his options.

"If we knew where she is, I would be able to take to the roof and cut off her retreat."

OOC: Take 10 on Perception for total of 19

"Well, unless someone told her we're coming, we know she's in that tenement building, third floor southwest. If you can get on the roof without anyone seeing you, it's probably not a bad thing to block off that exit."

Figus smiles "That can be arranged. Give me a few minutes and I will be in position. Having ones parent a drow does have certain advantages."

Figus heads to the southwest of the building. Once there he concentrates a bit and begins to float up, guiding his ascent with his hands.

OOC: Levitating and trying to be stealthy (take 10 for an 18)

Kraw sneaks along, following Figus. As he ascends, Kraw keeps a pair of daggers in hand to 'cover' his movement. Kraw is prepared to intercept any attempting to ambush Figus with a pair of quick-thrown daggers.


01:09, Today: Kraw rolled 28 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 16.  Stealth .

Figus and Kraw climb (or float) up to the rooftop without seemingly drawing any undo suspicion.

Meanwhile the other two members of the party hear the mob coming closer and closer. The parents start hurrying their children inside and doors and windows start shutting tight left and right as the sound of anger and violence start to approach.

Figus hunkers down, gets out a Tanglefoot Bag and waits for Ayeesha and Kyra to flush their target.

Kraw waits in the shadows, his twin saps in his hands.


20:46, Yesterday: Kraw rolled 19 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 7.  Stealth .
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Wed 09 Oct 2019.

"We better get up ourselves, staying down here could get very unhealthy very fast." Kyra says while listening to the sounds of the approaching mob. She then flicks her scarf over her shoulder and sprints up the central stairway to Trinia's floor.

It's mid-morning so would be bright but the mess of the Shingles makes a lot of shadows and obstructions of the sky like an artificial forest canopy.

OOC: If you're making a stealth or disguise check please roll, including your bonuses if any

Figus attempts to stay out of sight.

14:38, Today: Figus Dva rolled 24 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 14.  Stealth.

Ayeesha moved with Kyra, not taking any pains to hide herself. They were the hounds, hopefully they'd drive their prey into the hands of the lurking hunters.

Kyra is in too much of a hurry for stealth on her way up. But once up there she can try to find a shadow to lurk in.

07:08, Today: Kyra rolled 30 using 1d20+15 with rolls of 15.  Stealth.