Revision as of 23:18, 16 August 2015

Participants

• Edmund
• Reginald
• Rokarion
• Zuri

Date

16/8/478

Log

No matter how the group reached Cliffside they are here now. And they would have been given directions directly towards a small building in one of the craftsmen district of the outer city.

They group would be quickly taken inside into the building and shown to the office of William, while being told to wait.

Zuri smiles at the other two beings as they wait. He's standing prim and proper, especially given the presence of Edmund in the room. The salamander has dressed for the occasion, from the rather formal-looking suit to his best shoes.

Reginald , having not brushed up too bad himself, gives the two a quick nod in greeting, even adding in a small smile to the familiar salamander. Dressed in a rather unassuming attire, with added cloak, he waits patiently to see what happens next.

Edmund is not here as a Freesword. But he certainly could not turn down an opportunity to dig about in such courtly intrigue. The hippo wears his finest military uniform and the gold chain and crest marking him as a royal knight. He nods to Zuri in recognition, then stands still, examining Alington's office.

Alington's office simply oozed 'wealth'. Looks like unlike some of the other rich beings in Cliffside, his rivals Ridgewell, Antonia, and Father Hawkes coming to mind, William loved showing off his wealth and power. The most prominent piece of furniture however is the large portrait of the late Edgar Alington hanging above William's desk.

It does not take a minute before a side door opens and William steps into his office, the bat and the two guards with him clad in black attires in remembrance. "Ah, great.", he says idly as he eyes the three beings before leveling his gaze on Edmund, "The Goods not only sent one of their family members but also dressed him up with a huge, 'I am a Sweetwater Noble' sign too." the bat says sarcastically, "Well this will sure be putting a dent in my credibility for candidacy, but that is another issue." William sighs and turns around to look at the portrait of his father, "Edgar Alington, a knowledgeable scholar, a cunning politician, not so great a father to be honest." the bat says as if reminiscing before turning around to look at the group again, the bat's large vermilion eyes shining with purpose, "Your job is simple. I suspect a certain aristocrat of his death. Clive Torrens, a rich business owner after a fashion. He has been keeping low since the beginning of the troubles. My spies have seen him recently, but the Cliffside City Watch and army both refuse to arrest him for me. Your job is simple for today. I want you to break into his mansion and search for any possible incriminating evidence. Anything from letters to weapons to even records. Any questions before I continue?"

Zuri blinks. This is a lot more forward than he was expecting. The salamander is used to this kind of job, just not this much.. forwardness, especially in public. He peers at Edmund and Reginald before returning his attention to the Elder, smiling politely. "No Sir, no questions. I assume the usual details. No violence, no trace we were ever there, smash, grab and leave?"

Reginald , also taken aback by the directness of his bat employer, offers up a further question, "Is there anyone currently resident in this mansion, and, if so, who and how many beings should we expect?"

"Please, Sir!" Edmund says indignantly, "To even suggest that a Royal Knight of House Good would be involved in such underhanded scheming! I am wounded!" He winks at Zuri. "In fact, I think I shall be forced to visit this Clive Torrens in person to tell him of this grave affront to my honor and to his," he continues, "Immediately! As well as loudly and in great detail! Why, it mike take me hours to properly express my displeasure!"

William raises a brow at Edmund and sighs, "And I am an honourable man who would not think of spilling royal blood in my office." he says idly as he sits down on his desk and puts the contract that three signed on the table, "However, ignoring the fact that you have to actually find Clive since no one knows where he is, you have signed a secrecy contract." William looks back at the three, "And avenging my father's death is nothing to do with politics, but I would be a fool not to abuse this. A Good royal trying to publicly denounce one of the candidates to the elder office? Do you honestly believe that the public are willing to believe anything but the fact that the Goods do not want me in office? You will be doing me a favour."

William shakes his head and looks back at the two, "You two work for Ridgewell, don't you? I wonder if he sent you here as well, but no matter. The house currently is not resided by any of the Torrens. And the last reports say that there should be only about six guards and three servants. No need to over-staff an empty house after all. If you are smart you should run into none of them. I do not care how you enter the house, but any deaths are on your neck. Anything else, I would be willing to vouch for you, or rather bribe you out of jail. It is really simple, you do this job, and make no mention of me, and you should be rewarded and protected during your time under my employee."

Zuri looks apprehensively between William and Edmund. The salamander knows better than to interject himself into a heated conversation between two of his betters. Instead he waits patiently until William answers their questions, then nods. "We're just two Freeswords here to assist you with our talents, Sir." He smiles. "And if a clean job is required, a clean job you will have, absolutely so." He turns to Reginald. "Are we good to go?"

Reginald is loathed to accept the reassurances of safety from one in such a powerful position as William, due to his inherent distrust for those in the higher society. This aside, however, he could desperately do with the crown, so shelves his concerns. Turning to Zuri, he responds, "I believe so, however, I do wonder what our friend here plans to do." The last part directed, with the hint of threat, at the hippo who had earlier stated his objections.

Edmund blinks at William. "Creators," he mutters, "No one told me that Cliffsiders were so thick. I just offered to be a loud distraction." He shakes his head. "But fine," he continues, "Never let it be said that a Good cannot be discreet."

William sighs and covers his face with a palm before shaking his head and looking back at Edmund, "Goods sure cannot be discreet." the bat says with a shrug, "I was playing along to give you an excuse to storm off, but no matter, you just proved that you are indeed a soldier not a politician." he says with another shrug before throwing three pouches at the table, "Six hundred pouches each. There will be a handler waiting for you outside. He will take you to the mansion. I will send another handler to escort the Good distraction alone. The other two will follow from a distance."

Zuri looks between the two other beings, utterly lost in their back and forth. He smiles at William and nods. "Yes Sir!" He glances at Reginald again before snatching one of the money pouches and heading back outside, already mentally preparing for the job.

Reginald follows closely after Zuri, picking up his money pouch, declining his head in appreciation to the bat, before turning to leave. However, just as he is about to exit the room, he gives Edmund one last stern glance of distrust.

Edmund cheerily gives William a rather rude gesture, then parades out of the office, leaving the money where it lies. "I will, of course, expect a full report Mister Pondleaf,"he says as he. reaches the door, "In strictest confidence, of course." Thenhe is gone, off to make his complaints and inquiries to this Clive.

William shakes his head as the group begins to leave, "And your contract still swear all of you to secrecy, better remember that. You don't want an enemy out of house Alington." he says before returning to work.

The beings are escorted into the inner city, Edmund going first with his own guide with the two others following. It takes more than an hour to finally reach the mansion. The groups stand in an alleyway away as Edmund himself saunters towards the building. Proudly standing in front of the two guards at the entrance as he starts demanding to see one of the Torrens.

Luckily for the two other beings it appears that this distraction is enough to clear a way to one of the side doors, most likely leading into the kitchen or another servant room. "Clive's office should be on the third floor, and his bedroom there as well. Be swift." the handler says.

Zuri nods at the 'handler', his eyes returning to Reginald. He offers his partner-in-dodginess a smile. "Alright, third floor it is." He gets low to the floor and begins stalking forward, heading towards the side door and hiding next to it, stacking up to one side as he waits for Reginald to do the same.

Reginald follows quickly after Zuri, the two passing the two nervous guards as the loud Good keeps demanding to see a Torren even if none of them are here.

If Zuri bothered testing the door he would discover that it is locked.

Zuri does indeed test the door, finds it locked, and seems completely unfazed by this discovery. The salamander reaches into his jacket and retrieves a pair of picks, a rake and a wedge, the tools of his trade. He inserts the first pick into the lock, and tests the lock's tumblers with the rake. He slides the wedge into the lock and applies a bit of torque by twisting the handle ever so slightly. This allows him to try and use the pick and rake to move each tumbler into position.

As the salamander busies himself with the locked door, Reginald keeps a vigilant watch for any sign of guards, or any other sign of movement.

Zuri's skill is more than enough to unlock the door. The two beings quickly enter into what appears to be a small room for servants going on trips outside or coming back in with coat hangers, closets, and chairs. Luckily no one else is here today.

Zuri packs up his tools again and urges Reginald to go in first, ready to follow after him and cover his advance.

Reginald cautiously enters the room, giving it a swift once over just in case, before placing his ear in turn to each of the doors that lead further into the building.

The room's exit leads to a long hallway filled with many doors, and thankfully a pair of stairs going upwards. There is a guard patrolling the hallway, the bored being yawning as he stops before reaching the servant room and turning around once more. Looks like he is just guarding the rooms on this floor.

Zuri looks over the corridor, and watches the guard for a moment to see what he is doing. He seems more preoccupied with what he's doing in this floor, so it may be possible to simply walk past him towards the stairs up. He looks back at Reginald, then starts stalking forward quietly, timing his advance to when the guard moves away from them.

Reginald remains behind, keeping an eye on both Zuri and the guard. Just in case things go south, he could use his hidden location to get the drop on the patrolling being, thus he subsequently readies himself.

Zuri manages to successfully sneak past the guard and onto the stairs leading upwards. And what luck! The stairs go up to floor three. Up there, the stairs once more lead into a hallway leading in both directions. Unfortunately for Zuri it appears that at the end of the hallway is the room they are looking for, if the guard standing there is any indication.

Zuri peers back at Reginald, then at the guard still patrolling the corridor. He decides to stay where he is, perched in hiding, ready to help his friend over in case he gets spotted. From his pocket he retrieves a pouch with a powdery white substance which he spreads on the palm of his right hand, clenching it to keep the knockout drug in place.

Reginald waits for the downstairs guard to do a circuit, before following in Zuri's footsteps, albeit with a little less grace than the salamander.

Reginald manages to sneak past the guard, just barely as the being looks back and rubs his chin, "Anyone here?" he says before shrugging and going back to his patrol.

Zuri smiles at Reginald. He keeps the knockout powder clenched tightly in his hand as he waves with the other hand, urging the other being to follow him up the stairs and towards the bored guard. He speaks in a hushed voice. "Think it's up ahead. Guard standing there." He indicates by nodding his head in the correct direction. "May need a distraction, but I'm not sure what it could be."

Reginald , having joined Zuri, acknowledges their dilemma. From where he's standing, he takes a quick look around. Hopefully there is a door to a room he could reach without passing into the vision of the static guard, a look of absolute concentration on his face.

Zuri crouches next to the wall that leads into the corridor, clutching the sleeping powder in his hand. He looks back at Reginald. "We need to lure him here somehow." He looks back into the corridor, considering his options.

Reginald crouches on the opposite side of the entry point, before producing a pebble from his pocket (as what rogue worth his title wouldn't carry a handful of these useful little things). Accounting for the time that the downstairs guard will be at his furthest from them, he throws this little rock through the opening to the hallway, looking to draw the static guard past them just in time to take him with the least possibility of alerting anyone else present.

The guard raises a brow as he hears the sound of the pebble striking the ground, and also noticing the pebble as well, "John, is that you?" the guard asks as he picks up the pebble and walks towards the stairway, "You better not be playing around again."

Zuri waits patiently as he hears the guard approach, the salamander pulls the scruff of his outfit over his snout to cover his identity as best as he can, and when he figures the guard is about to step around the corner he pops out, first the head, to catch the guard's attention, then his hand, armed with knockout powder. With one swift motion he's going to toss it at the guard's face, hoping to impair or outright incapacitate him.