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]

There's only one way to find out.

[She glances back over her shoulder to see if one of the servants were still around (spot 27).]

Let's see if they can pick out their boss's face.

[silverguardian]

[ they're all sort of milling around nervously at the bottom of the steps, but as evidenced in the picture, none of the worm creatures have really discernible... facial features. they're all sort of hideously stretched and monstrous looking. ] If we burn it, we could kill him.

[killingtodeath]

I'm getting really concerned that someone is about to suggest we go in there and get him out or something...

[silverguardian]

We can't just leave him in there. Perhaps there are healing potions in this home for those of us still injured, [ a glance at stiles ] And some more appropriate weapon for you.

[killingtodeath]

[He looks a little sheepish.]

If there's any chance this guy was a baseball fan, we may be in business.

[silverguardian]

Don't you know how to wield something more lethal?

[killingtodeath]

[Wow way to call him out. Stiles glances away, mumbling about how different skill sets are just as valuable...]

[allmydreams]

[Felicity holds up her hands before they start wandering into wounded pride territory (diplomacy 20 total).]

I'd rather he have something he knows how to use, rather than wing it with something more dangerous where he can hurt someone that's not the bad guy. Besides, it's not about the weapon you use, it's how you use it.

[To Stiles:]

It's worth a shot. Go see if they have something you can use while we figure out how to get in - or get them out.

[killingtodeath]

[Nodding, Stiles heads back towards the people who work here to go find out if any of them know of any baseball bats on the property lmfao. This is what he gets for putting weapon finesse on that specific thing sigh. (Gather info 21)]

[silverguardian]

[ well i rolled that apparently he is a BASEBALL AFICIONADO??? he has a giant collection. lmfao how did that happen. we'll say they're so good that one of them can even count as a +1 weapon just for you stiles. magic bat.

nyna looks at the painting, leaning close to the surface. ] It looks... wet. [ she picks up a brush nearby and approaches it, carefully poking one end of the canvas. it disappears into the painting as far as she sticks it, and then she withdraws it, eyes widening. ]

[allmydreams]

Well, that's not creepy at all.

[She makes a face as she starts to make her way closer behind Nyna.]

Did you feel anything pulling against you?

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles ducks out to go find his super sweet bat and will return with it asap. Don't die in the meantime ladies.]

[silverguardian]

Just like it's trying to suck me in, yeah.

[allmydreams]

[She nods in agreement, before glancing back over her shoulder.]

How hard was it for you to pull back out? I mean ... if we go in there should we have a rope or something to pull ourselves back out with?

[silverguardian]

There wasn't that much resistance. But something's keeping those things from coming out. Maybe we could have one of the servants wait out here to try to push a rope through if we can't get out?

[allmydreams]

[Felicity nods in agreement.]

Yeah. I'd rather have a back up plan if nothing else.

[mordsith]

[Cara doesn't like the idea of trusting a servant with the lives of her team.]

Can we anchor ourselves before going in? We treat it as if we are scaling the face of a cliff.

Or one of us remains behind to ensure nothing else comes out while the others go in.

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles returns with his new fancy bat! And catches the tail end of what cara says.]

What? No. You guys aren't seriously thinking about going in there, are you?

[allmydreams]

Mildly contemplating.

[Felicity makes a face as she raises a hand to scratch against the back of her neck.]

We can't leave the guy in there. And we're not exactly sure how to get him out from here. It's a bad plan, but right now collateral damage is the worse plan.

[Because right now it's either go in and get the guy or burn it and kill him.]

Also since whatever this is didn't pop out to come and get us, I'm guessing that in order to beat it, we have to go to it.

[mordsith]

And if we all enter only to learn that we cannot escape? [Cara shakes her head. It sounds foolish.]

I don't trust magic enough to think that placing all of us into something unknown is a wise choice.

[silverguardian]

We might not have enough time to debate this. Who knows what's happening to that poor man in there? Send a message back to Wynnefalshond, if you believe it necessary. If we don't alert him to our return within a few hours' time, he'll know where to seek us.

[allmydreams]

[Felicity weighs both of the options for a moment and yeah, informing Wynn is a good idea, so she's going to send him a text: "Possibly running afoul of a magical kidnapping painting. Investigating further, if we don't report back send knights to (insert dude's address here)."

Then she looks up again.]

Cara's right about something unknown though. I wish there was a way we could scope it out before we just jumped in there.

[There's a beat.]

What do you think would happen if one of us just ... stuck our head in or something?

[silverguardian]

If you're going to do it, do it. We're wasting enough time here.

[killingtodeath]

I'll do it. [Stiles says, stepping up towards the painting.] You guys are better at fighting than me anyway. So just... come in after me if this gets weird, alright?

[Maybe it's the comfort of finding a baseball bat, or maybe he just realizes that this is gonna happen so he might as well get the party started. He can't really be too helpful with a lot of stuff but he can do this. So he steps closer to the creepy painting and gently touches it...]

[allmydreams]

[Felicity is making unsure faces about it but it's mostly because it's Stiles, not because she doesn't think he can do it. She takes a step forward, placing her hands on his shoulder.]

We'll hold your legs. You're just getting a look around. When you're done or if you get into trouble, kick us and we'll pull you out. We're not going to be able to communicate with you otherwise. If you find the guy in question, see if you can get a hand on him and we'll try and pull you both.