Trail of the Assassin

August 27, 2015

The group starts searching the building after they search the assassin.  They find a lot of things for disguises, including some used kits, bits of costumes, and prop weapons.  They also find several small chests, one filled with silver and one with copper.  All of the coins are ones, which is strange.  After some more searching, they find a trap door down to the place below.  They find a room set up like a study and a door with a magical trap on it.  Niko sets off the trap a few times but avoids the trap, so he's happy about that.  His team members who were hit aren't so happy.  The next room has a very elaborate bedroom.  More locks on a foot locker and wardrobe.  The foot locker reveals lists of target names, magistrates of Korvosa!  They also find a chest with gold ones in it, similar to the other chests.  Cress finds a key that seems to be able to open any lock he tries it on, so is happy about that. The wardrobe reveals dresses worthy of a noble, maybe even the queen herself, and a full Red Mantis armor set!  They are nervous about who must live here! 

They discuss what to do when Trinia, who was on watch, says that someone is coming.  A Red Mantis appears as the group gets into position.  He sees the body and readies for an attack but it's too late.  The group pounces and while he got a hit or two in, is quickly taken out.  His body is searched but before they can move it, the hear the Korvosan guards asking about them.  A kid says, "that's where the mean ol' dwarf went who killed my friend!  He was just sitting with us and then the dwarf stabbed him!"  The guards surround the building and get ready to go in. 

The group hustles to the basement area.  Cress prepares an illusion to make the place look old and run down.  He also uses some components to have the place smell like garbage.  While he got the illusion done, he wasn't able to get down below.  He swallows some nasty components to throw up on himself and then pretends to be passed out.  Those acting skills are being used!  The guards rouse him and Cress says he doesn't live here, just a place to sleep.  So the guards take Cress out to see if the kid can identify him.  When the kid can't, he is let go.  Cress tries to go back in but the guards remind him he doesn't live there and to go home.  Cress curses a bit and hides around the corner.  The guards don't find the basement area and leave.  Cress heads back up the ladder but the kids shout at him, bringing the guards back.  Cress again plays it off as drunk, is told to go home, and the kid stays.  Cress manages to distract the kid and get back inside. 

The group searches and brings up the chests and then decides to go chill.  They can't go back to the guild hall, which was searched, so get a room at the nearby Laughing Wave Inn.  The talk about what to do and decide to send Trinia to get Gil, their guild contact, to tell him.  Cress notices that some of the items are marked, so might be tracked.  Trinia leaves and Niko follows, which turned out to be good.  Trinia gets caught in a fight between some Hellknights and Shoanti and injured.  Niko is there to help see her to the guild.  When they get there, Trinia goes to get some help while Niko reports to Gil.  Turns out Guildmaster Boule is there and also hears the report.  Gil and Boule are very happy with the progress they are doing.  Gil gives Niko a half dozen healing potions they can use and asks if there is anything else the guild can do to help.  Niko says they found some powerful magic items that were marked and weren't sure what to do with them.  Boule says that he will have Mel go to their rooms and see what she can do about them. 

Trinia asks if this is enough to get her name cleared.  They have information that shows that Devargo Barvasi was involved with the Red Mantis.  At the very least, Devargo is tied to a group who killed magistrates, as the group found out many magistrates have been killed this evening, even if they didn't kill the king, for which she is accused.  Gil and Boule ask if they have any ties to Devargo, and Niko says yes.  Boule says that it might work but to talk it over if that's what they want to do.  Niko and Trinia head back to the Inn. 

While Niko and Trinia are gone, Cress works on the items to figure out what they specifically do.  They are quite powerful but also very obvious, as they are signature Red Mantis armor and weapons!  Grohlyn doesn't like that.  They also wonder about the list they found and if they should do something about it.  They also heard the rumors that magistrates have been killed but have no idea on how to figure out which ones are dead or not.  Mel shows up and puts the items they want to hide into a bag of holding.  Grohlyn asks where they can get one and Mel says she has one she would sell.  The group is tempted but hold off at the moment.  Niko and Trinia arrive and Trinia says she has a way to clear her name if they name Devargo.  Sveinn is NOT happy about this suggestion and is quite loudly vocal about it.  Trinia says she wanted to talk about it and wouldn't act on it.  The others wonder about it but Sveinn repeats that anyone who leaks that without direct evidence that Devargo did something himself would be met with fists.  The group then talks about other options.  Mel wants to see the room where they found the stuff, and the group agrees to take her.

Lazarus and Trinia, who was given the cloak that can create illusions that they found, make a distraction a block away as the kid is still watching the place.  The performance draws him off sentry duty.  Trinia isn't happy about having to be in public, disguise or not, but does do it.  The rest sneak into the place to show Mel.  She takes their words on most of it, double checking a few places for hiding spaces but doesn't find anything the group missed.  They head back to the Inn, discussing what to do. 

(I don't remember how but they realize that one of the targets is Cerbino Jaggare and they decide to see if they can go help.)  Mel goes with them to help the magistrate.  Niko and Cress sneak in and find the study in the room that is nearly identical to the one at the Red Mantis hide out.  A few minor differences but nothing substantial.  Niko and Cress, with Cress' familiar's help, figure out that there is a lot of new stuff, and it is magical.  They sneak up to the magistrates bedroom.  They convince him to listen and he does when they explain what is happening.  He's willing to speak to Boule to confirm this.  Niko and Cress sneak the rest of the group in but it wasn't sneaky enough, as the fake servant comes up to attack.  The group is ready for the assassin, though, and capture him.  By now, Cerbino is quite happy with the group, having proved they are here to help him.  Trinia hopes they can use him to clear her name.  It is pointed out again that going after magistrates isn't the same as going after the queen and it might not work.  However, Cerbino is happy with them saving his life and promises to do what he can.  He even says that he might have more for them to do, if they are interested. 

Boule shows up and Cerbino praises the group, assuming the group is high in the guild.  Boule agrees, saying under his breath, "now" to the group.  While the details need to be figured out, the group has gotten some ownership in the guild and are rising through the ranks. 

GM Notes

• Dan was gone but Bob was back, so I was playing Lazarus and Trinia.  
• I had Lazarus sitting in the corner, trying to compose a poem or song about what the group had done.  The group wasn't happy with my efforts at singing or rhyming.  
• The kid's death coming back to haunt them was for drama, as I doubt in this world, his death would be investigated.  So it still served a purpose.  
• I also wanted some drama with the guards.  The group had enough time to just hide and hope they weren't found but Bob did a good job using his illusions, and components, to hide it.  I pushed back on him but think he really rose to the occasion. 
• One thing did happen that I was worried about.  One of the things I have had to learn is how even if the players role play something well, I still should have them roll to see how well their character does.  This keeps them honest with their characters and also pushes them to help each other. 
• Basically, I didn't say that the kid left area and when the player had his character just go back inside, I had the kid call him out.  Again, as with above, I should have let the player roll for his character to notice this.  It is this sort of thing that could undermine trust between player and GM. 
• The player rolled with it well, did another act, and then distracted the kid to join the group.  It worked out but it could have been bad. 
• Also, the idea was to have players ask more questions or to have some drama happen not to punish.  It was a small moment and could have gone either way but I think it worked out in the end.  
• I really enjoyed John playing Niko and doing things.  That was, in part, based on an article I shared about player's duties at the table. 
• I know this comes with experience but I really like how things worked out.  And it's amazing where inspiration or ideas come from.  In this case, sneaking around in the magistrates house, was pulled from Downton Abbey.  Not directly as this is a much smaller house but the ideas were there.  The idea that the servants are in their area, don't go into certain areas without an invitation, and basically class decorum were shown to me by Downton Abbey and it works well. 
• I probably do need to have them make a payment to the guild to go along with their promotion.  It will make them more in the long run, so I will see about that next time.  
• Once again, they are probably getting money too fast as they have a lot and behind wealth by level for gold.  However, they don't have tons of magic items.  Most of their magic is healing potions, which they will need without a cleric or any healer, so I think it works out well.  

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