Gameplay - The Dragon That Opposed an Empress

That sounds like a plan. Maybe you will be a leader some day.

Eh-up Jutok. Who round here would likely be carryin’ poison? Ah ‘ave need of supplies.

Mavis has been carrying her poisoner’s dagger for miles, but never seen a poisonous creature to harvest poison from. She has no qualms about taking it from the scum on these streets at dagger point.

Does that make me as bad as them? Mavis asked herself. It was unusual for a dwarf to be so introspective.

Don’t talk daft. Tha’s dwarf an’ they’re scum. Just don’t get blood on shoes when tha slots em replies her dwarven heritage.

Ruby hesitantly yet curiously takes small bites of the food, not about to let this downtime go to waste worrying when a new cuisine style is right in front of her. She doesn't say no to the ale either. "Fantastic. We're making great progress."

Hehsh will order something raw and bloody from the bar while they wait. "I will say thisss for the orcsss. they make better cooksss than... than the lassst place we sstayed."

Jutok indicates that there are poison merchants about in the area, at least lady he was here. You can stop on the way and pick your, um, particular?

Grabbing a bite to eat, Mavis heads out the door. She looks about for a place to skulk (preferably high up) where she can watch the poison merchants and plan her heist.

Heist is a grand word, for what's essentially going to be either shoplifting, mugging or a stick up.

But first comes her stakeout....

Like a shadow in the night, Mavis invisibly creeps into a tactical position where she can see bugger all. She then creeps back down to join the others for an ale.

Hasan grinds his teeth knowing that anything thing he does would fall on deaf ears and would likely get him killed. White knuckles would be seen as he tries to contain himself from his city(town) guardly duties.

Hasan would sit and eat with his crew keeping a weary and now almost paranoid eye out for what will be.

In between mugs of ale Ruby spots Mavis come back inside. She looks a little...gloomy? She probably just needs a hug, or to finish her food. Can't be positive on an empty stomach. Confident she has a proper understanding of Mavis's inner thoughts she engages in some more banter. "Get what you were after? Fair prices?"

Mavis answer Ruby's question into her mug.
Ah saw nowt interesting.

Thieves were renamed rogues in third edition, but some part of Mavis's soul couldn't help feeling embarrassed that she'd somehow let the side down.

that night at the castle keep

The noctural people of the city, orcs and hobgoblins chief among them, become more lively in full dark. Towards midnight, you make your way to the castle, and find the gates open. There is a small crowd, about a dozen, mostly those taking the time to chuck filth at the dragon you can spot within.

The huge brass, slightly larger than Panantyss, is chained to the ground. His scales are covered in mud, rotten food and much worse. Still, his posture is that of pride and quiet patience. This too shall pass.

You can buy a handful of filth for a copper, if you want to chuck. The hobgoblin guards are allowing people to step just inside the gate to throw their bundles at the beast, further in and with rocks with a bribe.

There are only a few guards at the gate, but more lounging inside. The keep courtyard is a couple hundred feet on a side, with the dragon taking up a good chunk of one side. Note guards are likely inside the inner keep gate.

There is no sign of the empress, but two workers are setting something up on top of the gate.

Mavis nudges Jutok and Sweets.

Ey up lads. Wager were whether it'd recollect thee. More if tha can put it t' sleep.

Tha gonna gawk and pay me, or show us an' get brassed?

If you bribe the guard you can get just inside the gate.

Hasan supresses a yawn. Why are we out so late, what is it we are trying to do? Free the dragon? But we cant get close. Coin can only get us so far based off the number of guards. And why is the dragon just sitting there. Is there something that restrains it? whats stronger then a dragon? Magic? But these don't look magical.

Man Im tired.

We will pay to get as close as we can without a reprimand. Take careful note of where guards are, and how tough the chains on the dragon look.

I will also be keeping an eye to make sure a certain dragonborn doesn't go rogue.

You purchase rotten melons from the filth vendor and slip a few silver to the guard, who says, "Three paces in, no farther, or its the camps for you."

You step inside and ready your ammunition. You have a few moments, to gauge the distance and to see the rare creature as well. The dragon is immobile, lying, and the glint of metal in the light provided by a few fires around it reveals that a fine chain net covers it.

Perception checks if you want to get a sense of the chains by the uneven fire light. Or describe another approach.