Closed Miscalculation?

[Alanna Higgins]

Allana listened closely finding all Inoadar had told her about the human body rather interesting. She nodded slightly understanding what he was telling her. Green eyes beheld the many pouches that he held in his hand. To be completely truthful. Allana wasn’t much of a tea drinker, but in this instance she would be sure to force herself to if it would help all the other crap she was going to be taking. She wasn’t surprised in the least bit that the Inquisitor was going to charge her. In fact she was rather surprised that he didn’t also charge her for the resetting of her dislocated shoulder. As he explained the other two contents of the pouches he held she watched him walk towards the examining table she was sitting at. Allana nodded and looked up at him as he set the pouches down. ”Hm I guess I’m going to becoming a tea drinker for the next week or so aren’t I?” She asked with a small smile. She winced slightly away from him and hissed as he dabbed rather roughly at her open head wound. “You seem to know quite a lot about herbs...how does one come up with herbs like this...do you grow them yourself, or have them shipped in from all over the world?” She asked curiously relaxing as he placed Krolar poultice upon her wound. She glanced up at him trying not to move her head “Thank you I appreciate that...I know you have to make a living with the rest of us as well.” Her bright eyes watched as he reached into a pocket and grabbed our a small vile she eyed it greedily as he explained the purpose of the contents. She smiled and nodded “Hmm so rather than owing you fortysix gm and a couple sm I could walk away debt free, and have a little extra money on the side….” Her smile grew as she thought about it she couldn’t think of a better solution than this. “Yes this sounds like a plan to me...Now the town I’m suppose to hit is a house in the Noble District. Its located on the outermost part of the ring to the North side. Now since I’ve been there once they’ll be expecting me back at some point and time….I caught a glimpse of this vase I may be no appraiser but It looked rather expensive sitting in a glass case and all.

[Inoadar]

INOADAR

Inoadar was distracted as he applied the poultice, but he answered the girl's inquiries. "Oh, you pick things up here and there, both as far as medical applications and toxicity are concerned. Even cooking and more general applications like glue and ink. Herbs are quite versatile. As to where I get them, we have shops that sell them specifically; there is the People's Market, where you never know what you'll find, and of course, there's always the option of going into the wild and digging them up yourself."

He was glad of her short hair, in regards to wrapping a bandage around her head to cover the poultice, but he'd learned not to comment idly on a woman's appearance. Her comment about 'a little extra money on the side' brought a smile to his face. It was exactly what HE had in mind.

He listened to her general description of the job. 'outer ring...north side...Noble district...glass case...' It reminded him of a job he'd taken a few seasons ago. But that had been a veiled assassination attempt. However, he believed he'd come to terms now with Barton. 'If not...' he shrugged, '...I'll die quick, but he'll die slow.' He could accept such terms.

But in truth, he did not expect this to involve Barton. That estate was not on the north side, outer ring. But Inoadar DID think he could use the same approach he'd used on that run. His Tamo dagger, made to look like a scroll case; spiked with one poison or another. His leather messenger suit, oversized to accommodate his mail shirt beneath; the one with the light, mage-crafted weight.

He already has his initial strategy in mind. "I will give you a poisoned dagger to keep inside the sling, so put it on and get used to its feel. I will bring you openly to the gate, as if I'm turning you over to the guard there. He will probably recognize you. Then, depending on how many fellow guards he has about, we strike, as silently as possible. I trust you know which room this vase is in. Do you know of any other baubles we might collect while we're there?"

x

[Alanna Higgins]

Allana listened to him interested her mind was usually hungry for any kind of new information. ”Hmmm...Interesting I had no idea that glue or ink could be found in medicines.” Allana stayed still for him as he wrapped her head with gauze. ’Well this is gonna help me remain completely inconspicuous….not..’ She let out a annoyed huff as he finished wrapping her head up. She noticed his smile and couldn’t help a small one of her own. After he was finished she glanced down at the sling. Allana knew this injury was going to hinder most of all her actions. She wasn’t exactly looking forward to it. With another heavy sigh she slowly and easily slipped the sling over her head, and braced her arm inside. Her shoulder seemed to relax just a little as it was relieved from some stress that it had been under before, though it was still sore. The young woman could tell by the way Inoadar was talking that he had already devised a plan. She let her smile slowly grow to touch her eyes. “You seem to have everything worked out already in your head that’s great..I’m more of a doer...not a planner… so my condition is really my own fault if I would have cased the place I would have known about the guards and would have been able to avoid them. Ah but that’s then, and this is now.” Hearing that she would be getting a poisoned dagger she knew she had to be extra careful not to stab herself as she slipped it into her sling. She already had enough medical problems for one day...for a whole week really. Listening to his plan she really honestly didn’t like it, but just because Allana didn’t like it didn’t mean it was a bad idea and she knew that. ”Yes I know where the vase is….its down the middle hall of the second floor..last door on the left. Along the hall there are a few small paintings, tables with two candle sticks on each table which balance out the small vase and the figurines they have set up...some are wooden some are glass. Other than that I can’t really be to sure I wasn’t up on the second floor all too long before I jumped back out.Now I'm not really sure what's all in the room that holds the vase...so no telling on what we might find.” She said ready to go and collect some miaz.

[Inoadar]

Inoadar finished up with Taleena in the other room; taking notes of how large a dose of snake venom she'd taken this time, and the extent of the debilitating effects she suffered. He cut her loose for the next few days to recover before her next dose. After she left, he showed how he would fashion a chain around Allana's good arm, just for show. It would make it look like the arm that was not in a sling was bound behind her back. "The guards will probably think your arm is broken. This will only add to the surprise."

Then they left the NMSS. He did not want Alanna to know exactly where he lived, so he stopped at a nearby diner and bought her an ale while he went to dress the part of messenger. He had not worn this disguise for some time now. The brocaded leather tunic with the bronzed epaulets and the indistinct insignia. The fine gray woolen breeches with the strip of blue satin down the sides. His black brimmed cap matched the black, low-ankled walking shoes that messengers typically wore.

Lastly he crossed a satin sash with the leather strap of his Tamo daggers, matching daggers, designed to slip together to a single unit when the blades were slid into slots in their counterpart's hilts. His was covered in worked leather to simulate a tubular leather scroll case. The crossed sash and strap gave an additional image of military symmetry to his appearance.

He then doubled up a bald skin cap beneath a fairly long, red-headed wig. He used red ink and putty to fake a scar on his cheek and just the putty to add a lantern chin to his face. He stood back and considered himself for a moment. Then he went back to the cafe to meet back up with Allana. He told her he would let her lead them to the estate. Just before they arrived, he would put the chains on her and act as though he was delivering her on the orders of one of the doctors at the NMSS, who had recognized her.

So she should act either resigned and docile, head hung in despair, or defiant and desperate, struggling and in pain from the injured arm. Either one would work. The first would either lull them into apathy, while the second would distract them from attention on Inoadar. They would see what looked like the best course when they got there.

x

[Alanna Higgins]

Alanna didn’t really mind that Inoadar planned to put her good arm in chains. It would give the both a considerable edge. If she performed correctly, and didn’t petch things up like last time. After he had showed her how he would have her arm be, she removed the bindings with some help from Inoadar. As he lead her out of NMSS she was rather quiet, her shoulder still being a little sore and achy didn’t really put her in a foul mood, she just didn’t really feel like talking as of yet. She was thinking of why exactly she took a shady job like this. Couldn’t...no Shouldn’t she get a real legit job in this city. Why did she seem to resort to this kind of job. Before she knew what happened she was standing inside a small diner. She looked around, walking over to the bar she sat down and accepted the pint of ale that Inoadar had bought her thanking him quietly she watched him walk off to some place unknown to her. She respected the fact that he didn’t trust her enough to show her where he lived, because well honestly she wouldn’t want him knowing where she lived just yet either. Alanna looked down at her drink she knew she wouldn’t drink much of it since she wanted her sense, and wits about her. Taking a slow, long drink of her ale she slowly turned around on the bar stool she was seated on. Her green eyes scanned the room there were around eight people seated around the diner. Three rather large men seated in the far right corner, two young boys seated not to far from the bar, and a group of three women seated near the wide entrance. The whole room seemed to be talking quietly of events that had been happening around Ravok this early in the season. Slowly she closed her green eyes and focused on the three men in the corner sitting at a small round table. One of the men spoke up saying rather loudly compared to the rest of the customer's ”Have you heard of that monster fish that’s been seen around the lake?” There was a loud roar of laughter around the table, Alanna could hear the clattering of forks, and knives against plates from around the small diner as a roar of laughter sprang forth from the table accompanied with the sound of a pair of stomping feet then the loud whack of someones back being slapped. Another man spoke up his voice not as deep as the first man’s had been. ”Oh come off that Nel, you know those fishermen and their whopper tails that they love to tell at taverns. If there really were a monster fish living in our lake don’t you think that someone would have seen it before now?!” Alanna turned her attention to the table closer to her, by the pitch of the voices she assumed they were young men not yet reached that point where their voices had dropped completely. One of the two young men at the table spoke “H-hey did you hear that a few members of the Ebonstryfe are going to be having a weapons showing tomorrow. I really want to check it out...Uhhh w-would you wanna come with me Rodoric?” She found that small tidbit rather interesting, as she opened her eyes she turned her body to face the bar once more wondering just exactly where she showing would be. Not really bothering with the fact that the young man had sounded a little nervous about wanting to go to the showing of no doubt deadly weapons. Looking down at her drink half the pint was still there showing a small reflection of her face back at her. . Alanna sat there lost in thought about how she would handle her now shared hit this time. She almost didn’t notice the strange man next to her for a tick. Blinking she looked over at him staring for a few moments she focused on his face. After a good long chime she realized It was Inoadar all dressed up in a disguise. A large smile broke out on her face, she got up from the bar stool and slowly circled Inoadar whistling lowly. “Well well Inquisitor you’re just full of surprises. This is a very nice job you’ve done here. It took me a good few ticks to really recognise you. I’m sure this will do splendidly for the guards….Is this what you do in your spare time for fun? Cause I’d most definitely would like to join you.” She teased lightly she slowly rocked back on her heels and looked up at him with a playful smile painted across her lips. She was excited to try this burgle job once more with some help from someone quite apparently more qualified than herself. Heck she might even pick up a few things along the way. Earlier that day, and after much debate within herself. Alanna had bought a Thieves kit from Tine’s Exotic Goods for 30gm, and she was itching to try out one of the new lockpicks she had gotten with the kit. As they took off towards their intended target whose name she still hadn’t remembered. Alanna had decided to have a little fun and try to blend in well with the crowd, moving fluidly along the docks. The longer they walked the more confident she got which ended up with her missing a step and tripping slightly which brought her back down and caused her to remain vigilant this time making sure to blend in well. Her boots were silent as she padded her way across the wooden structure which bobbed slightly from the amount of people walking over them. They were a good six buildings away from their target when Alanna stopped and stepped out of the main foot-traffic. She turned to the disguised Inoadar. “Well we’re almost there the house is about six buildings down the way is there anything you’d like to tell me before we have to get into ‘character’?” It was nearly impossible to miss with the way that Alanna held herself that she was excited about getting in there and getting her hands on some loot, yet something in her eyes there was a tiny bit of doubt that second thought of should she really be doing this or not. Was this the kind of life she wanted to live?

[Inoadar]

As they walked to the target estate, Inoadar outlined his plan. Of course, he emphasized how rarely such things went according to plan. But until such time as improvisation became necessary, he would bring Alanna to the estate under the pretense of having been hired to escort her there by one of the doctors at the new NMSS facility.

If the anticipated guards did not relax their vigilance with that story, he would add that the doctors had mentioned someone named "Barton" having given the order. He wanted to do this to gauge their relationship with Barton. Their reaction would betray whether they were Barton's own thugs, employees of an rival boss, or neutral thugs that nonetheless knew the name.

It would also determine their treatment of Alanna. It was possible it would inspire them to be more brutal. Inoadar gave a look of acknowledgement to Alanna'a alarmed look, promising that any higher level of focus on her would make his dispatch of them all the smoother. He suggested that she put on an act of begging, cowering surrender as they took to abusing her. Then, when they suddenly realized that this "messenger" was attacking them, they would dismiss her to react to him. Then they would be vulnerable to HER sudden aggression with the dagger she now carried in her sling.

He also wanted to know if these men worked for Barton, so he'd know if they needed to be killed or simply disabled. If they were Barton's men, he' could not let them live. He'd gone to great trouble to devise his current truce with the man and did not want to give him cause to break it. So it would be "Pillowsap" poison to put the guards to sleep. If they needed to be killed, he would cut their throats as they slept. But if they were some other guy's men, he did not want murder to be the grudge held against him.

Also, if they were quick enough, there would be less chance of any real recognition later. Alanna did not have this luxury, but she HAD to be recognizable to these men for their surprise to work. Once they cleared the front, Inoadar would decide if he felt that he needed to don the guards gear to work their way into the home itself.

Once inside, they would be playing it completely by ear. Any recall of Alanna's would have been from climbing in the window and wouldn't be much help in knowing what they would be up against. If it was just a bunch of housekeepers and servants there wouldn't be much resistance.

x

[Alanna Higgins]

Along the way there Alanna listened to his plan. It seemed like a very good plan hopefully all would all go according, but Alanna had been living in Ravok for some time now and knows that Rhysol works in chaotic ways. So there was really no telling what exactly was going to happen tonight. As they walked Alanna’s thoughts seemed to drift to what they were to be doing. ‘If anything should go wrong Alanna remember dear you do have a knife tucked into that harmless looking sling you’ve got there. If they really piss you off you could always make sure this dagger slips between their ribs and while you slowly twist and drive it deeper into their fleshy vessel you get to watch the life slowly drain from their eyes. You get to watch them slowly be enveloped by deaths cold loving embrace. All the while their still warm blood still flows from their body, wouldn’t that just be lovely!!’ Alanna’s steps seems to falter for a second as she shook her head shaking away the dark thoughts. ‘Come on Lanna keep a hold of yourself now breath in the nose out the mouth besides this knife is laced with a poison that’ll put the person you attack to sleep there will be no need to you should not resort to violence you don’t need to make unnecessary enemies you know what’s right and what’s wrong..’ Her face held an expression of distress for a moment before she slipped a flimsy mask of calm, and tried to quell the feuding thoughts within her mind. A late evening bell tolled out as Inoardar fashioned the chain around her good arm and made sure it was behind her back. It didn’t seem to really bother her as they walked forward Alanna dropped her head down and slumped her good shoulder. They were nearing the home of a man by the name of Mitchell Langsworth. He had invested some money into a few business around Ravok and has made his money back thrice since. Sadly this man even though he was wealthy didn’t have the greatest bedside manor when it came to dealing with employees or the hired help except for the men who guard his house since their all family in some sort of way. It was showtime! Alanna’ disposition was that of the cat who had caught the canary and then been caught itself. Walking towards the entrance at the house Alanna let out a couple of audible sobs which alerted the two rather beefy men guarding the entrance. With a pep in their step having remembered the red headed lass from before they walked over to the two. “Oi what you do’n with that lass there?” Asked the man who was taller than all the others standing there. He had cropped bleach blond hair much to short to do anything with, his form was that of a body builder while this partner looked like a much smaller body builder than the second he had shoulder length hair pulled back into a low ponytail. The second male decided that it was a great time to cough up a loogie and spit it out right near Alanna’s feet. With her head dropped no one could see the glare that had wiggled its way into Alanna’s eyes. Knowing this was a crucial moment within Inoadar’s plan she let out a rather loud sob which made one shoulder heave slightly. ‘This man better what his step Lanna or else we’re liable to run him through with his the blade Parnell gave you did look very sharp girl maybe you could cut his head clean off? Then dance in the blood spraying out his lifeless headless body. Next time he’ll think before he spits at a lady's feet.’ ‘No Alanna stick to the plan the inquisitor cooked up its a good solid plan sweets no one has to die to day..why shed blood that doesn’t need to be shed. Think smart causing a scene right now could botch what you're about to do which you know isn’t good anyway. But I’d rather have you make off with a few stolen goods rather than leave covered in blood and in the bonds of the Ebonstryfe. Again Alanna think smart and live long.” During the few ticks that her mental feuding took Alanna was silent now her head still dropped and her gaze on the docks underneath her feet. Spoken words. Good thoughts Bad thoughts NPC spoken words

[Inoadar]

"Okay, I'm going to have to be a bit rough now." Inoadar said quietly, not giving Alanna enough warning to keep from being tripped and shoved to her knees. He wrapped one of the light chains around her neck and played just enough slack to approach the man about halfway. "Don't move, bitch." he sneered, bringing a smirk of approval from the advancing guard.

He turned with a sort of businesslike reorientation of his focus as he cleared his throat. "Uh, yes...sir...I was instructed to bring this charming girl..." his voice sang with sarcasm, "...back to the scene of the crime. She showed up at the new Nitrozian-Moletta facility a while ago, requiring some sort of treatment for her arm. The Nitrozian fellow there suggested that Mr. Barton?..." he said the name with a questioning tone, "...would appreciate the gesture? Does that name mean anything to you? Dr. Nitrozian gave me explicit directions here."

The guard turned to make eye contact with his counterpart. He turned back, "Barton?' and 'Nitrozian?' you say? We don't work for them..." Inoadar could sense the assessment of power behind the man's face. He said nothing as the man stood there, making no move. Soon enough, the man continued, "But...those are a couple of pretty big names to Mr. Langsworth, I think. I'll bring her inside. Thanks, buddy, you can go. I hope you're not expecting to be paid here, 'cause I got nothing."

Inoadar acted surprised at the comment, the better to put him off his guard. "Huh? Oh no, no. I got paid up front at the doc's place. Here..." he said as he handed the slack end of the chain to the man. What the man did not see was the concealed dart between his fingers. When the man took hold of the chain, Inoadar "brushed" the 'Pillowsap' dart against his hand. He knew the man would feel the jab, but he had his cover ready.

He faked a pain of his own, pulling his hand back sharply and exclaiming, "OW...Damn that shyke! Did you just get a shock too? I don't know why I get so many of them this time of year. I swear, I think sometimes it's the padding inside this leather. It chafes real bad sometimes, and I think it builds up static as I walk around, and this was a pretty long walk, the NMSS...that's the Nitrozian-Moletta place, is a ways away, and dragging HER along has gotta add to it with her tugging and begging and..."

He carried on for a bit, keeping the banter up to sidetrack the man's possible suspicion as he watched the man's eyes for the telltale signs of Pillowsap's effect. Within a chime, the man's eyes started to blink rapidly, and his head began to sag slightly. Inoadar knew he needed to divert obvious suspicion from himself. The minute the first guard dropped, the second guard would be wary and might go for reinforcements.

Inoadar quickly wavered and staggered, and dropped with a choking sigh, beating the guard's identical behavior by a few seconds. The other guard's jaw dropped. "What the Voice?" Without a clear perpetrator, and with the girl appearing to be restrained by chains, the second guard did not immediately suspect foul play. He crouched beside his fellow guard, but kept his distance from the girl, wondering how she could have engineered this.

Inoadar still had a dart in his cane/blowgun, which he'd managed to access as he fell. He was prepared to either shoot this man with a dart if he stepped away, or to clout him in the side of the head with his knuckleduster if he stayed there. Either way, Inoadar needed Alanna to draw the second guard's attention away from him.

x

[Nemesis]

Inoadar

Skills	*	*
Acting	*	+2
Disguise	*	+1
Investigation	*	+1
Intimidation	*	+2
Medicine	*	+3
Negotiation	*	+2
Persuasion	*	+1
Research	*	+2
Rhetoric	*	+3
Socialisation	*	+1
Tactics	*	+2

Lores

Allana: New NMSS Subject

Herbs: Properties of Conal

Herbs: Properties of Hista Balm

Herbs: Properties of Tolm Root

Medicine: Resetting a Dislocation

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*

*

*

*

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Consequences, Injuries, Expenses, and More!

• New Test Subject for research at the NMSS: Allana Higgins!

Allana Higgins

Skills	*	*
Skill 1	*	+??
Skill 2	*	+??
Skill 3	*	+??

Lores

* Lore 1

* Lore 2

* Lore 3

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Consequences, Injuries, Expenses, and More!

• ??
• ??

__________

• As always, a complete pleasure to read this delight
• Ino, I've given you 'Herb' Lores, if you would like to rephrase them let me know...
• Allana, if you return, fling me a PM and your grade will be posted.