switzerland ♔ the words tightening around my throat

[silverguardian]

WHO || Nyna, Cara, Felicity, Stiles
WHAT || The Knights are sent to hear about a prospective job from an art collector
WHERE || Bern, Switzerland
WHEN || April 13th, 2015
HOW || Actionspam

The streets of Bern swell with the myriad sights and scents of its industry: the wood and polish of carpenters' shops, tantalizing aromas wafting from dozens of bakeries, and the heavy oil scent of artists.  Meanwhile, hundreds of rich colors give the district an appearance of a holiday festival.  The townhouse of Asheron Coyl comes into view, perched on a small rise that overlooks the street.  A low fence covered in vines abuts the street.  A gate opens onto a flagstone path that wends past frozen flower beds, fountains, and sculpted shrubs to the front doors.  A bell hangs next to the gate, reading "Please ring bell" in several languages.  With an 11 disguise check, Nyna didn't really bother to dress all fancy, opting instead for her paladin armor, sorry guys.   She can be the sexy bodyguard.  

Comments

[allmydreams]

[Felicity nods, before turning back to the man with a small smile.]

Thank you. That would be very helpful.

[If anything, it's at least a place to start.]

Mr. Coyl asked us to have dinner with him tonight to discuss artwork from ruins that he had acquired. Are those the same pieces he received today?

[silverguardian]

[ "I'm afraid I do not know, Miss. I did not think he expected any shipments today." ]

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles squints at the guy (sense motive 14).]

We should probably try to hurry up and catch up with that guy if we can. How long ago do you think he left?

[silverguardian]

[ "It could not have been more than ... an hour?" ]

[allmydreams]

Good. That means there's probably still a trail for us to follow. You said you got a good look at him?

[mordsith]

[Cara is listening to the conversation, wondering what sort of trail they might be following.]

[silverguardian]

[ he nods, providing a description of the man, as a young looking fellonde hair tied back in a pony tail, walking with a polished ivory walking stick and wearing a rapier at his belt. he had on a charcoal and ream noble's outfit and black cloak. ]

[allmydreams]

[Felicity nods, making note of all of this, before glancing back towards the door.]

Do you know which way he headed when he left?

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles shifts nervously, because while these are good questions? He just wants to get out of here and hunt this guy down before shit starts getting really real.]

[silverguardian]

[ he shakes his head nervously, and nyna sighs. ] Thank you for your help. We're... sorry about your master. [ she looks to the others, nodding towards the door. ] The sooner we start asking around, the better chance we can find this man. [ and to expedite matters, everyone can roll gather info checks ]

[killingtodeath]

[gather info 23]

[allmydreams]

[Gather info 8 action point says 16.]

[silverguardian]

[ armed with their description, it's no problem following the directions of vendors, street urchins, and other pedestrians to a place a couple streets over: a residence on Pfau Strasse. stiles gets someone to identify the home as belonging to yet another wealthy art critic in the ivy district - an aristocrat named Belfor Vittanis. the home is marked number 20, and it appears that its occupants are in the middle of some kind of high society party. numerous vehicles lines the circular drive leading up to the colonnaded entrance. some fo the drivers and their help stand together, sharing mugs and gossiping, while within the grand home music and laughter drifts out towards the streets on a soft breeze. a group of drivers and other servants are gathered near the vehicles out front, currently debating Lady Tillanda's taste in men. ]

[killingtodeath]

[Good thing they're still dressed to party, hun? Stiles will just sliiiiide right up to those drivers and try to calmly slip into the conversation.]

Oh, totally. She can do so much better-- [??? He's just gonna fake it until he makes it.] So hey. You seen a guy with a pony tail with a fancy ivory walking stick around here?

[Gather info 26.]

[silverguardian]

[ one of them looks up, smoothing back her hair as she says: "Oh yes. He came through about an hour ago, with a servant." ]

Did he have anything with him? [ nyna glances at stiles, as the driver goes on: "A... wrapped painting or something, I think. He stayed for awhile, came back out to pay and dismiss his man, then got inside Lady Tillanda's limo with two more wrapped packages and left. I think they're about to unveil his painting or something now." ]

[allmydreams]

[And that has Felicity's attention. Her eyes widen as she pushes closer.]

Where are they unveiling it?

[They did not need a bloodbath on their hands today.]

[silverguardian]

[ "In the ballroom, I believe." ]

[allmydreams]

Thank you.

[And with that, she will turn and gesture to the rest of her team to head into the house.]

Quick, go!

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles bolts. Which is probably not the smartest since he's still not armed... But he's got a weirdly good idea where he's going (navigate nat 20). It must be all that time he's spent in the castle. He just knows fancy place layouts now.]

[mordsith]

[Cara is still along for the ride, despite her silence. Her gather info check was a whopping 5, so clearly she's more concerned with being there when things get insane.

She does the same as Felicity when they mention more paintings being unveiled and hopes the boy rushing ahead knows where he's going.]

[silverguardian]

[ silver double doors of polished dark oak bound in brass open into a wide, vaulted hallway. a grand staircase leads up to a carpeted balcony directly across from the entrance. closed double doors exit the hall to one side and open doors on the opposite side lead into a large, elegant chamber filled with men and women dressed in expensive outfits - the ballroom. others seem to be competing at how little they can wear, walking a fine line between indecency and fashion. music from a small orchestral group competes with the boisterous hum of merrymaking.

four drunken partygoers stumble down the grand staircase as they enter, slurring their words as they debate the merits of wood versus canvas. spotting the group running in, they sprint forward to greet them.

"You must be the entertainers Belfor ordered!" one of them crows in delight. ]

[allmydreams]

[It's a split second decision. Felicity comes to a stop in front of the drunken gaggle in front of them, looks at them for all of a moment before nodding (bluff 27).]

Yep. That's us. We were told to report to the ballroom?

[mordsith]

[Wrong choice, Felicity. So wrong. Cara is not playing along. She doesn't do being the entertainment. She barely made a successful princess.]

[silverguardian]

[ "Wonderful! Wonderful!" one of them turns to paw at nyna's armor, much to her annoyance. "Ooo, are you re-enacting a battle??"

a listen check of 12+ is enough to hear a voice in the ballroom, raised to announce: "The time has come to unveil this mysterious painting, yes?" ] Yes, clearly. Now let us in, we're already late.

[allmydreams]

[Felicity picks up on that (listen 19), and she turns towards the ballroom and starts to try and move around them.]

I'm pretty sure that is our cue.