Session 5: Tattooist or Traitor? Report

General Summary

The next days reconnaissance proved a few leads but of little great import. Indalell gained more inroads with the local thieves guild the Black Hands, while A'lar managed to get an invite to some sort of rebel meet up. As the group gathered, Ismaril proposed that they break into the Tattoo parlor in the early hours of the morning and set up to ambush the artist as he opens his shop and to question him. The rest finding this acceptable, set out around 3 in the morning to secure their entry to the Black Ink Parlor.  

Indalell made short work of the lock and they were in. A quick once over of the parlor would find A'lar pocketing some magical vile's of tattoo ink and beginning to set up a picnic breakfast on the tattoo counter. Ismaril made herself comfortable at Thorns drawing table while the others continued to clear the shop. Indalell scouting the back room found beneath a supply crate a hidden grate leading down into a tunnel. Ismaril would tilt her head as she took note of a drawing upon the desk. It as herself, remarkably well done, topless and with a variant of her tattoo idea scetched across her chest. "Can you believe this, this is not what I wanted!" she held up the drawing to the rest of her comrades, in its full glory. A'lar would remark as he spread some jam on a croissant "How accurate is his drawing to its subject?" a grin upon his lips.  

Indalell as this banter began would slip into the tunnel and begin to carefully and quietly sneak down the tunnel. He would come to an old stone wall that was broken and giving entrance to a hallway that was well underground. As he started to creep over the rubble, he suddenly realised he was not alone and had three armed individuals descending upon him on all sides. Their blades would cut into him and pierce his armor in several places forcing him to cry out. Slashing back desperately he would tumble thru and away from them putting his back to the rock wall of the tunnel, more heavy slashes and cuts would mar his flesh as he cried out in alarm for his comrades. "It does seem to be a very good drawing" Ayrien would comment tilting her head examining it. "Yes well that is not the point, this is not the tattoo I wanted!" Ismaril would exclaim "And exactly when did he see my breasts to draw this so well!?" Indalell meanwhile would make desperate parries and strikes back wounding one of the three as they closed in on him, he noticed in the hall behind them now, more assailants were arriving. Deciding it time to go and badly wounded he would bolt down the tunnel screaming for aide. Adalon would perk and tilt his head "Where is Indalell?" With that everyone's attention would snap towards the backroom he had not emerged from. Ismaril slid across the counter, knocking A'lars picnic to the ground, to his dismay and protest. The rest would soon find the tunnel in the back and Indalells shouts, dropping down to join the fight.  

Whomever was attacking them however did not pursue, falling back into the hall way seeing the re-enforcements arrive. Adalon would charge to the front in pursuit followed by Longwei and Aryien. Ismaril would follow up but halt in her tracks, turning to look at a strange southern wall. With the jig being up, 3 of the attackers would burst from the wall that was apparently illusionary and engage the group. A'lar would hand a few potions to Indalell who was already chugging his own healing potions, his wounds closing, leaving small scarred and marred flesh behind. Ayrien and Ismaril would engage the new threats, trading blows and quickly overcoming the attackers. A'lar would produce an illusionary copy of Ismaril to distract one of the attackers as Longwei and Adalon brought another down. The group would move into the hallway to find a door shut, likely a kill pocket for the defenders within. Adalon would stride forward to prepare to open the door when a metal wire underfoot would make a loud "Ting!" sound and from above glass bottles would fall erupting in alchemists fire. Ismaril, Adalon, Longwei and A'lar would cover their faces as flesh and clothing burned and smoldered. Indalell would move up "Careful of those" he would say. Ayrien also moving into position. A'lar after patting the fire out would send the illusionary Ismaril to open the door, where she was met with 3 vicious sword slashes. Adalon would gather his draconic powers, hurling a draconic infused wad of saliva and mucus into the room with a concussive blast as it struck. Illusionary Ismaril would push thru distracting most the attackers allowing the group to push thru the choke point. Longwei would take several blows before reaching his quarry and returning in kind with a flurry of fists and kicks. Ayrien and Vaera would breech the gap, the cat dragging an enemy to the ground to be met with Ayriens spear. Indalell eager for revenge found his way to the flanks and began to cut down another as Ismaril, the real one strode forward a palpable aura of dread about her, as her thinblade pierced another thru the throat.  

With the enemy dispatched a very annoyed Ismaril having he plans ruined would return to the shop. Adalon, A'lar and Indalell would investigate the den of the terrorists and find a map with markings of the various rebel cells, a few notes written in gnomeish, and evidence that families were in hiding here, not just fighters, but there was no sign of the leader or the children. With one survivor among the fighters, they restrained him and made sure his wounds were not lethal, while Ismaril awaited Thorn to arrive.  

Thorn would enter the shop at about 8:45am, tilting his head noticing the back room door open, now cautiously stepping into his shop, Ismaril however would speak "This is not the tattoo we discussed" surprised, Thorn would move around the curtains to his work station and tilt his head to her "That eager for my work?" then would take note of the others about his shop as they slowly closed around him to ensure he did not go. Being forthcoming to their questions, Thorn would explain he is a sympathizer not a member of the rebels. He thinks dragons have been a terror to the world, laying it to waste twice before and only due to the quieting did the not destroy the world a third time recently. He also expanded upon what great good the massive hoards of wealth the dragons held could do for the common vassals of the Clans, who are slaves. Some more obviously slaves then others, but all salves to the will of dragons none the less. With their questions complete, Adalon would call for the nearby guard to take Thorn and the survivor into custody. Indalell not wanting to lose his connections to the Black Hand Thieves guild, disguised himself as Thorn, while A'lar put an illusion upon the real Thorn so he could be removed without being seen as himself. Indalell would bandage his hand to avoid having to do any tattoo work and would stay the day posing as Thorn. Towards its end a member of the Cockatrice rebells would make contact. "Are they all dead?" he would ask. "Im afraid so, sorry I couldn't do more" Indalell as Thorn would say. "The Cockatrice escaped with the rest and is grateful for all you did, please see they get some dignity in a burial" and left 50gold for Thorns troubles.  

A'lar perhaps being moved by Thorns words, would take the Gnomeish notes to someone other then the inherent power structure of the Clan for Analysis. Arriving at the Starlight embassy he would be granted entry despite Guard Captain Ismarils scrutiny, which was hard to tell if in good jest or real. A'lar would ask Sildenaer to use his connections to analyze the notes and give his unbiased opinion on the matter. Everyone took the afternoon off to rest from their early venture and be ready to attend the rally held by the Basilisk cell later that night.