The Gallows Quarry Heist - RPLOG
Participants
Date
20/7/476
Log
The order was out, calling for any trustworthy gifted being to immediately head out and investigate the quarry. Rumors have been rampant, folks asking why their life bonds haven't returned home from their day of work yet. Waiting for the party to arrive is a rather large looking bull with a yellow and metal helmet on his head, his deadly horns poking out of cut-out holes and standing proud and sharpened. Near him is a standard spear wielding Firmament guard as they both look around a bit anxiously. Within the quarry, one may easily spot the gigantic pile of stone, along with many other guards walking about, presumably looking around for something.
Selena lands nearby in a puff of sand and gravel, moving quickly over to the supposed commander and gesturing to the pile of rubble. "What happened and is there anything I should be informed of before I start moving rubble aside?" She asks bluntly, tapping a foot on the ground with evident impatience. "If there are people in there, we're wasting time."
Mirana walks up herself, a bit out of breath, her machines fallowing along with her. She arrives just in time to hear Selena's question and comment, and can only give a nod in agreement, "Lets get them out of there and wounds treated." she defers to Selena better skills with math, and prepares her medical kits as well as her creator healer.
Ictus grumbles as Selena flies overhead and shakes his head, "Wish I could do that..." he sighs as he looks around though and nods in agreement as he eyes the surroundings for anyone in need of assistance
"Trust me, it's not all it's crack up to be." Mutters the fox at Itcus' side as he looks over the edge of the quarry, and kicks a pebble in. Angus watches it fall, before he turns to walk over to the Bull as well, staring at his sisters small army in surprise.
Kialla again, in crisis, is trotting along after Mira, a bit flustered. Two emergencies in one day. Though, she has more equipment with her this time than she had previously. She gives a soft phew when they reach the quarry. Looking down at Mira, then Angus, whom she'd already met once before. And then to Ictus, and someone she hadn't met yet. She smiled nonetheless, a change from her rather constant nuetral expression.
The bull watches as Selena flew in, giving him a bit of a shock, but the strong looking and heavy bovine quickly recovered and cleared his throat before starting to speak. The guard slapped the bottom of his spear upon the ground and gave a salute. "The name's Granite," the bull commands with a booming and deep baritone voice. "I'm the head of operations here. You may have noticed we haven't attempted to remove any of the pile there. There's a reason for that." The bull gives a gesture towards the guard with his head and soon he produces a strange bit of parchment and hands it to Granite. The backside shows an interesting symbol, looking like a silhouette of a wolf jumping over a gallows pole. "This wasn't an accident it would appear. After the incident, one of the workers found this note. It seems to be an act of terrorism, which is what the hush is all about. Please allow me to read it to you." After clearing his throat, the bull begins to read off the note.
"Power by birth, a silly farse. How much do you care, sweet nobles, of your people? When we close the curtains, who will be clapping? Death shall be swift for actors and audiance who dare remove the stage props. The eyes of critics are sharp, consequences cutting deep for poor performance. Cleanse your sins with a shower of coin, five hundred thousand in number."
After his reading, the guard pulls out another piece of paper, this one looking much like a map. "The crown wishes for this matter to be settled fast. Rumors spreading about possible terrorism would be rather unfortunate, especially during the weapon merchant's visit later today."
Selena mutters something under her breath. "And you're leaving the pile there because of a few threats?" She demands, moving over to the pile of rubble anyway. "Your job is to keep people safe, isn't it? And you're turning a blind eye to this many people in danger because of a threat you should be prepared to deal with?" The wolfess mutters something under her breath and examines the pile a little more closely. "We need two things: Beings ready to intercept arrows, and someone to move the rocks from a defensible position. I think you know that already, though. Let's not waste any more time."
Angus blinks..terrorists, really? Now this has definitly gotten worse, he frowns as he looks to the parchment. Great, more fools who believe they were better then nobles. Yet when push comes to shove they spill blood just as easily as everyone else. His ears perk up as he listens to the Bull. "Weapons Merchant? What weapons merchant?" He looks to the bull, before he turns to Selena. "Wait! ...they could of booby trapped it." He comments, glaring at the rubble.
Mirana listens to the words from the note and frowns. She shakes her head and looks to Ictus, "Sweetie, this..." she is at a lost for words. She looks back to her cousin and brother as well. She walks up to Selena, "I want to save them too, but if there is something to keep us from saving them, then just moving these rocks might trigger the deaths we are trying to prevent." She says with a nod to Angus, then, she looks to the Map.
Ictus blinks at the note and shakes his head sadly, "Seriously?" he sighs a bit and frowns, "That's the biggest..." he shakes his head, "Why don't they ever come at us directly..." as he looks to Selena with a nod before he takes the map to look at, "Mira has a point and so does Angus."
"How do you think I feel, wolf," Granite snarls slightly as he looks towards Selena. "They obviously had the power to trigger one explosion. What's to stop them from firing off a second one? So far, it doesn't seem like anyone has died, and I want to keep it that way."
The bull crosses his arms and breathes a heavy sigh in an attempt to calm himself down a little. "Yeah. Some foreign weapon merchant likes to come into town around this time. Puts on a big show of it. Everyone loves it! However, crowds can draw rumors faster. I'm sure you understand." The guard hands over the map to Mira with a nod. It would appear to be a drop-off location for the supposed ransom a few miles northwest in a not so special looking location. Perhaps 45 minutes of distance.
Kialla mms... "For all we know, props could be the people. Not neccesarily the rubble, or the rocks."
Angus shakes his head. "That might be possible but..." He mutters, something still didn't sit right. "...Mind handing me the parchment with the threat please?" He asks, tapping his chin as he looks over the rubble again. "Cousin, your better at finding traps then I am. Mind taking a look? Maybe they have a spell on it as well or something..."
Selena shakes her head. "You realise that the beings will suffocate if you leave them in there for too long, then?" She replies flatly. "How long have you waited since the explosion? The torches they use down there won't be helping either and I don't expect them to have much food if this is dragged out -- that's what the house is there for. So do you have a plan to correct that beyond sitting and waiting for a rumor? And if not, why call us here?"
Mirana shakes her head again, "Kiall'a is right as well, if we don't do this right... we need more information." She says rather flatly herself. She looks to Selena, "If they are smart beings, they wouldn't be burning many torches in there now. Selena, do you want to potentally kill them by acting too quickly?" she points out the drop point for the money, "We need some eyes here, someone who can move quickly. And can someone please examine those stones, someone with eyes for magic and eyes for traps. Selena is right, we need to get them out of there, but what would be the point if we cause another explosion or an avalanche?" She herself gets busy examining the structure of the mine, to see if it could withstand another shock.
Ictus hmms and nods at that before looking to Angus, "Indeed, I'll see if I can find anything." he moves over to the blockade and looks them over carefully for anything that might indicate a trap
"Sure thing." Granite hands the note over to Angus with a nod. The handwriting looks quite neat! Very easy to read and pleasing to the eye. With another snarl, Granite returns his gaze back over to Selena. "We took a large risk in drilling a few holes for air. We figured these terrorists wouldn't mind their hostages living longer. Though, dehydration and hunger is still a factor. It's been a couple of hours or so and the rumors are already spreading."
The bull looks over to Ictus with a bit of worry. "Careful now..." With a shake of his head, he looks towards the group again. "Indeed. We need someone to check out the ransom location. Another thing about that note... It implies someone might be watching. So before just setting more stuff off, perhaps we should try a little investigation."
Selena shakes her head and moves around the rubble. "If you have holes, they've got a potential supply line." You don't have to worry too much about water, that can be dealt with through some math. She replies simply, checking the holes' width. "And you say 'setting more stuff off'. Pardon for asking, but do we have any idea what kind of explosives were used? Blackpower could be rendered inert if it's made wet, that's easily done. If it's buried under the rubble, there's no way to get to it properly. If they're using grenades of some kind or other thrown explosives, they can be deflected. I haven't seen any powerful enough outside of barrel bombs to cause noticeable damage on this scale.
Ictus comes back from his inspection with a shake of his head, "I can't find anything, if there is something though... They must have it set up nearby." he looks around and ponders, "Lets get them some help, shall we?"
Angus blinks, and turns the the Bull again. "Would you happen to have a map of all the tunnels?" He asks politely, smiling a little as a plan hatches and his tails twitch. Turning to the Wolfess he waves an arm "Selena, could you come here a second?"
Mirana nods to Ictus, "Ok sweetie, and Selena is right." Nothing much to add she just gets to work this time, trying to find anything that might hold the explosives. She looks to Kia though, "Cousin, could you help me out, we are looking for something they might be watching us with, or something to hold powder in." she says. Then, another idea strikes her, "Wait, did you see any of them? Who left the note?" she asks.
"We're not quite sure what sort of explosives were used, but it was quite a large blast to be sure," the bulls nods his attention at Selena. "An explosive of this magnitude, and trapping around five workers... Someone must've been planning this quite a ways in advance."
Granite once more makes a gesutre at the guard, who then salutes and wanders off for a few moments. Later, he comes with another map and hands it to the bull. "Here you go. A map of the tunnels. Quite recent as well." The bull taps a finger upon a certain area on the map, an isolated tunnel next to various other tunells. "They're be around this area," he says, handing the map over to Angus. "Whatever idea you have, the weapon merchant carivan is coming soon and a member of the royal family shall be there as part of the yearly celebration. This is highly emabressing on my part and the crown..."
With a sigh, he looks back over to Mirana. "No idea, my lady. One of the workers said he found it and immedietly reported it to me."
Kialla nods to Mira quietly, "I'll help however i can." she coos, humming softly as she.
Selena sighs, glancing back at the rubble. "Well, you have an undefined threat and a foreign weapons show going on. And we have a threat that may well be a bluff." She comments, glancing around the rubble's perimeter for any explosive residue before she moves over to Angus. "What exactly is being transported in this foreign caravan? How valuable would it be?" She asks the guards.
Angus only looks at the map for a second, before he rolls it up and puts it into Selena's hands as he leans in to whisper something. "To be honest...I think we should split up into two groups...one to head to the drop off location, the other to chek out his weapons Merchant."
Mirana looks about with Kia and only notices the obvious, "Well, if they are watching us they are either hidden or using someone who is a Griffen. I don't see any machines or math that would help them keep an eye on us here." she says, looking over to Kia to confirm with her. She takes a deep breath, "Well, if I may then, I'll go talk to the weapons merchant, it seems a... shorter walk then the drop point." she says, her eyes going to the rubble again, "I hope they are.... well... lets just get them out as quick as we can." she says.
Ictus blinks as his ears twitch a second, "Wait... Cousin?" he looks at Mira and then at Kia, "Oh, I see. Nice to meet you." he smiles before he looks to Angus with a nod, "Indeed I was thinking the same." he ponders a moment and shrugs, "I only know what was said sadly..."
"Could be a bluff," the bull agrees. "As for the merchant, the masked fellow sells the crown all sorts of weapons. Sometimes his escorts put on a big show with them and everything. It's a lot of fun. The amount of money with this transaction... Probably more than I'll make in a few lifetimes, that's for sure."
Another guard walks in from the direction of the city and whispers something to the other guard and soon walks off back where he came. "Sir!" He salutes towards the group. "I have received a message that the merchant and his escorts have arrived safely and are just about in the market district."
Selena nods, though she doesn't look to convinced by the report. "You said it was 45 minutes away, didn't you? Just to confirm, but wouldn't it take a little longer than a few minutes for a cart to make it to the market? It's not the shortest trip, but it is an important merchant... As for your idea, I'm not opposed to that. I could probably manage the math, but it'd take some time to do. And a better starting point."
Mirana thinks a moment, "Wait, all the way back in the city?" she asks. A slight sigh, "Ok, if this is some kind of distraction, we are all well distracted. "If it is all the way back in the city, we should get eyes on that drop point, if no one else is going, I'll go, but I'd feel far better with someone with me."
Angus smiles and nods to Selena. "Alright then, just an idea." Looking over to Mira he shakes his head. "Why not allow another to check out the Drop off point. While you and a few others head back to town, your medical skills would be of a lot better use at the Marketplace is someone is attacked."
"Hmmm..." The bull brings a hand to his chin, idly thinking over the current situation. "If you really think that the merchant is in any danger, I suppose you could split up a bit while us and the guards I was given continue to investigate." On cue, the guard beside Granite salutes once more. "We're dealin' with quite a group it would seem. They managed to get some gifted here along with a good chunk of guards."
Ictus looks over at the report and thinks a bit, "Well, we don't want to spread ourselves to thin..." he looks to Mira and nods as he thinks a bit, "Let's split into two groups then. One goes to the dropoff point, the other to the marketplace?"
Selena nods. "If the weapons are worth more than the explosives they'd have needed to do this?" She adds, gesturing to the rubble disdainfully, "I'd say there's a good chance they have the weapons as a target as well. I can get to the drop point quickly enough, but I'm not willing to fly after a certain point. Too risky."
Kialla just looks to Mira. "It looks like we have some options to look into, then. If we're to get to the bottom of this." she gives.
Mirana sighs a moment, "If you think that best Darling, brother." and she turns to her machines a few button presses and they are heading back toward town. "Please, someone go to the drop point and look there, and, send word if there are casualties here to tend to and you need a hand. There.... there is a lot about this I don't like, but, who is going with me?" she asks looking most to Kia and Ictus.
"Good good," Granite nods. "I see a plan is coming together. Let's go ahead and get things moving. I'll stay here and continue investigating with the guards." The guard slaps his spear on the ground again. "If you need anything, please let me know. Time is of the essence here."
Selena nods, immediately moving off in the direction of the drop point. At first, through the air though before she approaches the perimeter of the appointed location she lands and begins to walk with far more caution.
Angus looks between the two groups, before he just shrugs. "I'll just head to the drop off point as well." Giving a grin he takes to the air himself, not as fast as Selena but he still manages to get there and look around, his hand resting on the guard of his Rapier..
Ictus nods to Angus and Selena before heading off to the marketplace with Mirana
Kialla is certainly more inclined to stay with Mira in this instance. Sticking together with the two vulpine family members for now as she thinks quietly to herself.
As the group that arrives at the drop-off point, at quite the quick pace, they may notice a rather eerie silence. The location seems to be mostly grass and open field with some trees thrown into the mix. Catching one's attention the most however, is a very large rock, perhaps a marking for the drop-off point.
As predicted, the marketplace is absolutely buzzing with activity of a mish-mash of people, common to noble, adult to children. Beautiful music hums in the air, sales are being completed, and everything just seems so wonderful! The carivan has found a lovely position in the center, covered wagons with their precious cargo. On the side of each are mage looking characters blowing brilliant displays of fire in the air, awing the crowd. In the front appears to be a masked individual, juggling two identical looking short swords in the air with impressive talent.
Mirana looks about the moment she gets in and nods to Ictus and Kia, "Lets see, nothing unusual at least at a glance. She looks around, trying her best to spot anything that would seem out of the ordinary. "Ictus, sweetie, you have better eyes for this, and anything in your magic that would help Kia darling?" she asks.
Selena looks around the clearing, working a little magic from the periphery to check the rock's composition before turning back to Angus and making a series of gestures to him.
Angus surveys the clearing, the silence getting to him as he frowns and nods to her. He gestures in return, his hands drifting down to his sides. A throwing dagger sitting in his right hand as he waits..
Ictus nods to Mira and looks around slowly, he blinks as he spots something in a building and tilts his head curiously, "I don't know what to make of it, but we should check out that building." he motions to the building and starts towards it casually, so aas not to arouse suspiscion
Mirana looks to where Ictus is going, but thinks it better she stay where she is. She isn't the most inconspicus fox ever. Instead she nudges Kia, "Anything cousin?"
The rustling starts to get louder and louder, until finally, the mysterious source of the sound reveals itself! It would appear to be your standard green gop that probably lost his way. Poor thing... In fear, it attempts to run away from the pair as fast as it can, letting out a short cry. Shortly after the event... Silence, and a nice gentle breeze!
The marketplace party continues to go smoothly. The masked merchant even starts juggling three daggers at once! Impressive, and gets quite the crowd appreciation. The mages switch to using both air and fire magic in combination with each other, making some very cool displays! From the distance a hippo arrives, escorted by the royal guard in a tight pack as he waves around to the crowd. The building Ictus heads towards seems to be a storehouse of sorts with quite the squeaky floorboards. What could be up top?
Kialla eeps softly when Mira nudges her, reaching to rub the back of her neck. But, she does follow after Ictus anyway, going back to her natural expression after a few moments of catching up to Ictus. "I think we're about to be out of time."
Ictus glances about the warehouse before he blinks at his cousin, he nods and motions for quiet as he works some calculations before he gently steps into the building, working his way to the stairs quietly as he looks aroujnd to make sure he isn't spotted
Selena sighs and shakes her head, moving around the periphery carefully, checking for any hidden bandits or raiders. Again, she signs back to Angus.
"Well...that was a deadly ambush." The Fox sighs, the dagger in his palm going back to it's scabbard. Turning he watchs Selena, and nods as he gestures back and turns to search around the otherside of the clearing. Cautious of surprise attacks as he looks around.
Mirana looks as the hippo arrives and curses slightly, she looks around for a building to duck into, or an allie to hide in. Once there she focuses, hard, changing her form in seconds rather then the minute it usually takes. When done, Mirana the Coyote stands there a vixen once was. She curses slightly, the power not able to hide her proportions. If nothing else though, she won't be recognised right off the bat. Thinking a moment, she also switches her soul gems, waiting there for the change to take effect.
Kialla gives a nod to Ictus, smiling as she glances back to him as she turns around to head back towards the crowd now instead, glancing around cautiously every once and a while. But she has to watch the festival, and all its performers more or less. Lest anyone potentially watching think they were being looked for.
The silence, only slightly broken by that of the wind, continues to play its tune among Angus and Selena. They certainly were directly where the map indicated, and there doesn't seem to be anyone around despite how hard they checked...
Ictus manages to make it up the stairs without a sound without too much trouble. There seems to be a strange smell in the air and quite the array of barrels with what would look like fuses attached to them, along with a wolf wearing clothes typical of a common fellow. With a snap of his fingers, the fuses ignite with fire magic and begin trailing up towards the barrels as he opens the window and starts his journey to hop-out, not much caring for stealth it would seem.
The hippo completes his journey towards the masked merchant, who then stops his juggling and bows in respect. They seem to be talking and having a good time!
Selena Shakes her head and glances back to Angus. "All right. I'm heading back to the quarry and getting the beings out. There's nobody here." She announces, moving back to the edge of the clearing and back to the sky.
Ictus blinks at the strange scent and winces at the wolf who gets away, then shakes his head at the fuses as he makes quick calulations before a breeze gusts in, amplified by math and sharp as a dagger, to cut the fuses
Angus sighs softly as they don't seem to find anything at all. "Well, this was a waste of time." He mutters, kicking the rock before he turns around and glares at the brush. And then takes off into the air once more as well.
Mirana sighs a bit as her new soul gives her what she needs and walks back out, over to the Hippo. She gives an almost pained curtsey, "My Lord, please, come with me, I'm from the house Solacious and I need to speek to you, it is urgent." she still has the Solacious seal on even if she doesn't look like any Solacious seen before.
First arrives Selena, and minutes later Angus, at the Quarry. As suggested, a few attuned with water magic flow water through the drilled holes. "Ah, you're back," Granite says as he approaches the returning pair. "Did you find anything? We've mostly been making sure everyone's alright. No fatalites it would seem. Little injuries."
At the second story of the store house, the cutting winds manage to cut all three fuses! But wait... It would appear one is just /barrely/ holding in there and silghtly slowed down, still having a chance to be blown out! The wolf climbing out the window gets some stares, people occasionally pointing. As he feels the cutting winds behind him, a small yelp comes from his muzzle as he crashes to the ground and into a market stall, causing quite a bit of ruckus and damage.
The hippo looks towards the crash and sends a guard on their way to investigate and then back to Mira, the royal guards tightening their cover around the hippo. "What is it that you speak of? I was just about to view the new muskets!" The masked merchant snaps his fingers as two wolves with three muskets in total walk out of the covered wagon, handing one to the merchant as he displays it with pride.
Ictus sighs as the fuses are cut... Except one! He dashes over to snuff it as he calls out the window, "Stop that wolf!" before he attempts to climb out the window after the wolf himself!
Kialla is in a fairly good position to make an attempt on the wolf as she spots Ictus start out the window! the yelling a good indication too, she'd only been at the back of the crowd. She made a dash for where the wolf fell.
Angus looks to Granite. "Nothing but Trees and Gobs, was rather boring." He commented, eyeing what they were doing at the tunnels before he taps Selena on the shoulder. "Shall we try that Idea I had now, or do you have a plan?" He asks, before he turns to watch the mages.
Selena shakes her head. "Nobody was at the drop point. Have you managed to get word from the miners or Firmament? I'm not sure how well sound would carry from down there, but if there's no explosives that they've found we can probably dig them out before long. So, yes - probably a good idea, Angus."
Mirana looks as someone falls out of the window of the building Ictus was in, and as weapons are drawn out. She feel more then a little uncomfortable, "My leige, please, come with me, your are not safe here." she tries to say as quietly as she can, and lead the hippo to the nearest guard house or, failing that, back toward the castle. She glances about as if something could come out to kill the royal being at any moment.
Granite looks towards the pair with a slightly confused expression. "Really? No one there? I see... They were probably just staling for something perhaps." The bull looks back towards the quarry and then back at the group. "We've had a bit of communication. Seems that everyone is okay, just afraid. If you wish to try your idea... Be careful."
The wolf slowly gets up, obviously quite in a bit of pain. Various people in the crowd set their attention on him, but don't choose to do anything. The guard begins to make his way over shouting "HALT!" and brandishing his spear. Kialla's presence, along with Ictus coming after him, also gives him quite a scare as he starts to back away in a slight panic and reaching for something on his belt.
The hippo seems to be quite disappointed, but a serious look soon grows upon his face. "I see..." he mutters, looking back at the merchant. "It seems you're quite serious. I expect an intense and detailed report over the matter." The hippo nods his heads at the guards surrounding them and they turn around in almost complete unison as the prepare to march off with Mira.
"HOLD IT," the masked merchant shouts.
Ictus glances down at the wolf as he reaches the halfway point and leaps ontop of him! or tries to, he grumbles as he misses the wolf and staggers a bit as he attempts to follow, "Someone grab him!" as he gets out a dagger to throw at the retreating being, grinning as it hits home in his back
Angus shrugs. "Beats just waiting to be honest." He smiles at Granite before he turns to Selena, giving her a curious look as he waits to see what the Wolfess decides to do.
Selena nods. "I'll ask again: Have you heard from town? If not, it'd probably be a good idea to send for a report. Doesn't the guard have a means of getting urgent messages across without a courier?" she asks, quirking a brow as she looks over the layout for an appropriate spot to start tunneling in, before shaking her head and simply moving over to one of the air-holes. "Okay, move aside down there! I'm opening this one up so you can climb out. Expect a bit of rubble!" She calls down before promptly tracing some math along the outside of the hole, the stone inside turned quickly to dust. "... Better than expected, that." She mutters to herself as the dust makes a small plume in the tunnel. "Anyone have a rope on them?"
Mirana continues to lead the royal away and at the sounds of a fight, someone yelling she just urdges them to go faster. "Hurry now, my liege, please." she says. She keeps her eyes peeled, ready to assist in anyway she cah.
