** Part I: Fire and Ash **

[Nocturno]

Delilah will move around to try and get a view of Idrys and the unknown. If she cannot, she will run to the hut and explain what is going on.

[spike]

Delilah: (vs. Dex: failure) you leap forth off of the catwalk and latch onto a vine, plummeting downward instead as you loose your grip. Fortunately there are so many vines coiling down you snag your ankle and hang upside down, move yourself to and fro then leap forward grabbing a vine, and leaping forward swinging to each until you reach the high branch that Idrys had gained. The rest of the way is effortless and you are there beside him in short time. You see he's looking downward, about a good 85 ft at a clearing wedged between two bogs. There's a dirt blonde haired halfling seated on a log, playing a flute.

Moments later you both see a bat winged shadow emerge forth out of a willow tree, standing before the halfling. It seems the two are conversing about something though at this distance you cannot be certain.

[TristenC]

Idrys tries to quietly get closer to hear the conversation (Assassin spy skill?)

[Nocturno]

Delilah will cling onto whatever she can get a hold onto to steady herself.

When steadied she will knock an arrow, ready to pin the little bastard if it tries to make a run for it.

[spike]

Delilah knocks a arrow preparing to snipe from a good position.
Idrys managed to zipline down a long hanging vine without being noticed, he lands on a lower hanging branch closer to the halfling. He overhears the two:

note: assassin spying is more elaborate/detailed and mission oriented. E.g. you go and infiltrate the guard of Lord x, y, z for an entire month to gain a insight into his security details, then hatch a plot to eliminate him. It's really to come up with a feasible executable plan to eliminate a particular mark.

shadow: 'ithyik nogom sogaldroth myigiz nogonth'

The halfling takes out a large clay jug, uncorks it and begins taking large gulps, wipes his mouth 'bah, don't be a fool! These imps aren't of any concern, yet. Tell your nice master to bugger off, I'm busy. And if he bugs me again I'll slit his damned throat!'

shadow: 'Ish grog noganth telemgar!'

The halfling took another swill of drink, removed a dagger and was idly toying with it as if to accentuate his boredom, 'do tell!, I'm shivering my timbers! Tell that fat fuck I'll need an additional oh say twelve hundred gold...I lead a particular way of life I like to maintain...wine, women, and of course there's viddles.. Now get the hell out of my sight, fore I cut your damned head off and send it back to him. Hmmmm, that begs teh question if I could, indeed cut a shadows head off would it evaporate? Intriguing question. I'll find out next time, the effort of exertion is almost an act in skulldrudgery...decisions, decisions'

The shadow dipped forward and laid a small pouch before the halfling, who seized it and felt it with a single hand in a rapid blur, impossibly fast. With his off hand he held a dagger at the bat winged shadow's throat 'now git!' he hissed looking around briefly to see if any were in the area.

[TristenC]

Idrys waits until the halfling is convinced he is alone, then drops onto him bearing his full weight on the small humanoid's head while avoiding damage to himself from the fall.

[Ooc: the idea is to use my falling body as a blunt surprise attack to knock him out (knees to the head) and to use the Parkour to prevent damage to me from the fall]

[spike]

(INT:1 succeeded) as fun as it sounds, the halfling is too far away to simply fall upon!

The halfling saunters away through a field of tall sword grass and cat-o-nine tails, which completely conceals him.

[TristenC]

Cursing quietly to himself, Idrys climbs back up to Delilah's position and relays everything he heard. I'm not much of a tracker outdoors. What about you? If not, let's get back and let the others know what happened...

[spike]

Idrys and Delilah soon returned to their hut, and by this time Karlene was bathed and prettified, calling upon her knowledge of etiquette she tones it down just a tad, not wanting to outdo the local competition.

Kessa hears Idrys's update and said 'splendid work, a bit risky but fruitful. Our best advantage is that whoever that was does not know who we are, or that we're onto him. We can track him now, or attend this elder's banquet feast. Remember, we're here for Alzor's agent first and foremost. However, I think we might do well in this instance to split up. Karlene, you seem to be at ease in social settings, that would be advantageous to procure more information pertinent to our current mission. I've a sneaking suspicion these bog men know more than they let on. The chef Benito might know a thing or three, if you can get yourself into the kitchen that is"

[Nocturno]

After Kessa is done, Delilah will bring up her dream. She will explain it in full detail.

"While meditating earlier, this odd vision came from me. I wonder if it was the group Alzor sent before us."

[spike]

John: "Mmmm, they sound to me like the same exact drow elves in the dark elf lands he was prattling about. I do not think he would have hired some black she-elves to do what he wishes be done. Listen everyone, I've a mission I have to complete here. My thane hath sent me a secret message while the princess Karlene was pampering herself..The bog-men have somehow acquired a prototype of a secret weapon which was stolen from us. It's a heavy rapid fire ballistae in the village square, poised over the river. With it, the bog men can command a toll to any ships traveling up or down stream along the snake river. The Emperor does not wish for his toys to be used to make others profit in such a way, so he wants the contraption sabotaged. If any of you stealthy folk would remove a particular gear component out of the weapon, you would be exceptionally esteemed back in Ironholme. I'd do it meself but alas I'm only good at two things: fixing things and cracking skulls.'

[Nocturno]

"I think I demonstrated how stealthy/agile I can be. I will bathe, then get ready to attend our hosts feast." she will blush when she mentions her own failed antics from earlier.

Then goes to undress and get in the bath.

[spike]

The fanciful feast


The party was afforded a solid hour of preparation time to make itself presentable, then summoned by a young boy who fetched you.

You take a long winding cat-walk to the village square, which is heavily laden with people, mostly bog-men and women, children, and a healthy sprinkle of others: the frog-men called Grippli's were amidst the crowd here too. There was a great deal of space in the square, many huts and buildings connected to it from catwalks gave it a spider-web layout look and feel.

In the centre of the square were the entertainers, several acrobats were flipping in the air and landing atop of one another, hoisting eachother and throwing one another up as if they were weightless. They were clad in exravagent, audacious colors that stole your eyes, nearly hypnotizing the crowd with their tantalizing movements. Another landing in front of the crowd and breathed fire into the air, proclaiming 'welcome! and thank you for loving us, we love you back!' then the female acrobat tosses the torch she was firebreathing with into the air and it exploded into five white doves that flew amongst the crowd, and those doves then turned into orchid petals.

These entertainers had a menagerie of expotic beasts kept in force cages. The bars are wrought from pure arcane power, glowering a cobalt hued color that was impenetrable.

Cage #1: a young adult blue dragon
Cage #2: a displacer beast
Cage #3: a blink lynx
Cage #4: an owlbear
Cage #5: a dire boar
Cage #6: a Mongrelman
Cage #7: A roc
Cage #8: A rust monster
Cage #9: looks like an animated black cloak floating in the cage

John makes a gesture toward the north end of the square where two alert looking guards are standing in front of a billistae overlooking the river below. One of the guards looks put out, the other is sitting on a stool talking with a teenage villager.

Some jealous eyerolls toward Karlene and Delilah. While Irys blends in with the crowd, a rather beautiful woman approached him and said 'I'll give you ten gold if you spill some wine on that woman's dress (indicating Karlene) she dangles a pouch in front of you.

After the introductory act, Narn calls out 'do we have a volunteer for the knife throwing act? Some woman brave enough to endure a flirtation with death!?' he asked dramatically.

It looks as though the archery contest is about to commence nearby....some bog men are setting up a pendullum of moving clay wine jugs as targets.

A throng of servants comes out from a doorway carrying platters full of scrumptious offerings: roasted boar, bowls of steamed monkfish, cauldrons of stewed meats, bowls of fruits, nuts, berries, figs, and grilled bacon.

Narn greets the group 'Glad you finally made it!' he said cheerfully, seemingly pleased with himself.

[TristenC]

Idrys accepts the gold, then promptly but discreetly dumps wine on the jealous woman that asked him to 'accidentally' douse Karlene. How clumsy of me. Please excuse me, my hand trembles at your beauty. he says in a completely deadpan manner. Dropping the pouch at her feet he moves off into the crowd..

[Nocturno]

Delilah will go past the dragon cage, then over to the archery contest.