Caltrix Nimblesquirl
Twilight Halfling; Acrobat; Rogue (Thief; 1); (TBA) Archetype; Harrow Card: 'The Locksmith'
HP: 15/15 | AC:17: Explorer's | Speed: 25' |Senses: Low-light vision; Keen Eyes | Lang: Common; Halfling; Gnome; Varisian
Perception (E): +7 | Fort (T): +4 | Ref (E): +9| Will (E): +7 |
| Skills | Attributes | Attacks | Sneak Atk Dmg |Hero Pts.: 1
N.B. The original post required some editing given my confusion between Player posting and Character arrival order. I shall incorporate the editions in maroon.
Sunset – or, at least, given the brooding weather, as close to it as made no difference. She was going to be late, thought the halfling as she made her way south through Korvosa’s streets and alleyways. The cryptic rendezvous was set for a location quite a distance from her usual turf though, ironically, not far at all from her parent’s home. It had been a while since she had seen them, she mused, before putting aside the distracting thought.
Still, the delay was annoying. She would, of course, have preferred to arrive sufficiently early to allow her to case the address, 3 Lancet Street, and observe the others – ‘others like her’ – that might arrive. She was wary of a trap being set by Gaedren Lamm. The fact that Enoch knew as much as he did of her movements and activities suggested that she wasn’t being careful enough. He didn’t know everything, though. Conso Voicu really had fallen, albeit in pursuit of her across the rooftops known as the Shingles: the man simply hadn’t known his limitations. Were the rumor mill elaborating the story that she had helped escort the miscreant partner of Lamm off the edge of the roof, well, all the better, she thought. It wouldn’t hurt to cultivate a reputation for ruthlessness. Halflings were often not taken to be deadly serious.
Enoch Reaves. What was he up to … and why would he need help in leaving Korvosa? Why would he want to for that matter? Maybe he knew more about this oppressive malaise affecting the city than he let on? Still, the offered bait of information as to Lollifar’s whereabouts and fate was too important to ignore.
She’d made her way across Old Korvosa towards the southern side of Endrin Isle and then up into the Shingles - not far actually from her own domicile. Only recently had she made contact with the Catsdew Lofties – the unusual group of all-female thieves that made the Shingles their primary turf. Caltrix herself had been associated with the Cerulean Society before Lamm’s betrayal, but survival in the Shingles, her new ‘home’ as it were, meant having allies. Rival gangs and the random, yet common violence of poverty worked the area – not to mention the depredations of the Chokers. Again, she wondered, how had Enoch known that she had made contacts with them? And if he knew that, why would he need her help to make an arrangement with them?
Well, she suspected that Enoch was far more than he let on, repugnant appearance and all. Even more intriguing was the question: why had he let her know that he knew so much about her? She blinked upon realizing that she'd spoken aloud.
Such questions were not going to be answered just now. She’d found a Catsdew colleague, dropped Enoch’s name, and left it at that. Were those-who-made-decisions for the Lofties intrigued, they’d so inform her and she could contact The Contractor - as she thought of Enoch.
Concluding this necessary task, she continued her way Southwards into the main part of the New City: the storm that threatened, but hadn’t yet broken (albeit scattered showers had moved through and over the city), cast a gloom that she took advantage of as she passed over the Narrows (she always chose a different bridge) to Mainshore; through Five Corners; thence the Midlands and West Dock (near to her parent’s house: they were successful rope and spar makers for the burgeoning shipping interests of the city). Whilst she normally travelled carefully, crossing streets and making random turns, here in the warehouse districts she ventured more openly - just another Korvosan hoping to find shelter before a storm: she was aware that the City Guard and Sable Company maintained patrols in these areas. As she passed farther south, however, she slowed and became much more cautiousSociety Check +5 and proactive as she neared the Hospice of the Blessed Maiden taking the time and effort now to move into shadowy areas; sneakingAvoid Notice Exploration Activity (+7) from cover-to-cover; doubling back around on her path; and otherwise taking precautions to identify and/or throw off any potential adversary following her. This took time and potentially risked her being late. Better late than dead, she breathed.
When at last she could surveil the address, 3 Lancet Street, she noted that the area was nearly deserted. Her spider sense tingled. Were the locals just battening down the hatches before the storm broke or was the quiet something else? Looking about her, she eyed a warehouse just up Lancet Street. Making her way to and into the building, she eventually reached an upper story window from which she could observe the facade of #3. The light rain, gloom, and shadows ensured that the little thief was deeply covered. She settled to observe for a short while: Caltrix was as interested in espying any surveillanceSearch Exploration Activity (+7) as she was in who might enter. If this were a trap set by Lamm, he'd have minions on the outside and the inside.
The place itself, #3, appeared to be a Curio Shoppe named 'Zellara's Wonders.' The halfling's keen (and low-light) eyesight could make out what appeared to be various objects that one might associate with occultism, but it was difficult in the conditions to make out any details from her current position.
Caltrix peered again at the Harrow Card. "Others like her." She thought: whoever placed this Harrow card, and she was sure that it had been placed, knew enough about her to plant the Locksmith.
After not too long a wait, there was some movement along the street ... perhaps events were about to unfold? Would the storm hold?
