"I know the way," Tuck says confidently, then looks around for any landmarks. He hesitates. The fog covers everything, and what little the kobold does see, is remarkably like any other thing in the City.
"Aren't we near the Old Cuckoo's Nest?" asks Vinccenzo, trying to help.
"No, no, that's over on the other side of... Wait, do you mean the Cuckoo's Feathers Inn, or the Old Peacock Nest?"
Tuck has never felt so lost in his own City...
|
OOC:
|
Natural 1 on my Knowledge (local) check! What an embarrasment for an urban ranger! 
knowledge local: 1D20+6 = [1]+6 = 7
Combined with the natural 1 from Vincenzo to Aid Another, I'd say we're truly lost.
|
|
"The Old Peacock Nest? I thought it burnt down last year, At least, that's what I heard," Vinccenzo replies.
"I meant the Cuckoo's Feathers. I think it is that way," he points towards the north.
Mani snickers quietly.
"Since Mani can change shape the binding will at most slow him down. Keep your hands on him."
Akos adds two loops over Mani's knees. He leaves the rope long enough for normal walk, but it still should hinder it.
"There is a guardpost that way. It is the closest thing. I wouldn't go through this fog to look for the barracks. We can...it may just take some time."
Knowledge (Local): 1D20+11 = [4]+11 = 15
OOC: the rope around the knees with about 1 foot of rope between. Should be enough for normal step...add few inches more it Mani is unusually tall.
"I've got him," the Sectarian Guard replies as he grabs the doppelganger by the shoulders.
"Move, you." He lets Akos lead the way south, southeast past shops and old homes.
Tim takes up the rear to watch their backs. The heroes keep an eye out for more guards but the streets are completely deserted. No one else is out braving the fog this night. It takes over half a hour to find the way through the deep fog to the guard post. It grows cold and the mist seems to cling to clothes and skin and soft ice crystals form on whiskers.
"Damn, it's cold," Vinccenzo complains.
Mani shivers in the night air. "A warm cell, please. Yes. Brr!"
The guard post is a large square building that sits next to an inner gate known as Red Arch. Lights flicker from behind closed shutters and no one stands guard out front. The reinforced double wooden doors are locked. Vinccenzo bangs on the down with his fist.
"Open up," he yells.
"We have a prisoner! We've caught the Old City Killer!"
There is no response from inside. The Sectarian Guard bangs again on the door, this time with the pommel of his dagger.
"C'mon, open up, you lazy dogs!"
Soon a voice is yelling inside.
"Shut up! And watch your tongue or I'll cut it out!" A wooden panel slides back on the other side opening up a rectangular slit just big enough to peer through.
"What the Nine Hells do you want?"
"I am Vinccenzo d'Lucio of the Sectarian Guard, and we have a prisoner for your cells."
"Sectarian Guard? You're a long way from the Wizard District, duffer. Take your prisoner somewhere else. This is a Regulars post." The panel slams shut and there is laughing on the other side.
"Stupid guards," Mani chortles. "So easy to fool."
Vinccenzo sighs.
"I really hate Regulars sometimes... they can be real bastards."
"I say we paint them bloody and sleep here tonight."
"Quiet!" Vinccenzo pounds on the door again and then kicks it.
"The prisoner is the serial killer of Old City, you halfwits!"
The inside goes quiet and then there is mumbling and cursing. The door is unlocked and when it opens, half-a-dozen guards stand inside with their longswords drawn.
The leader steps forward and grabs Vinccenzo by the scruff of his neck.
"Are you stupid! I said go away!" Then he looks and sees the adventurers arrayed at the door and his eyes bug out when he sees Big Tim.
"This is your prisoner? Why isn't he in chains!"
"No, he's one of us," the Sectarian Guard motions to Mani.
"This is our prisoner."
"This old woman," the Regulars guard looks at the doppelganger through the fog, which is starting to billow into the guard post. Mani has taken the shape of an old human woman and looks scared.
"This is your killer! Ha! Ha! You are stupid!"
"Stop that!" Vinccenzo orders Mani.
All the old woman does is cry. "Please help me! They are crazy!"
"Let her go, now!" the guard sergeant orders.
"You'll all be lucky if I don't throw you in the cells and throw away the key!"
"It's a doppelganger, you ignorant cretin!" The Sectarian Guard gets in the sergeant's face.
"Sure she is and I'm an effing dragon!" He pushes Vinccenzo backwards away from the door and moves to pull Mani away from the adventurers.
"Thank you, thank you," Mani says with glee.
"Sarge, I think recognize the big guy," one of the guards notes. "He's been working with that Elite named Custodio. They're hunting the Renegade Sorcerer."
"Custodio? That damn outcast," he pauses and looks at Mani and then a Big Tim. Then he sees Tuck.
"Wait, didn't that report say that there was a kobold working with him too?"
"Yes."
Oh, bugger."
"You are going to be in so much trouble when I tell the Lord Commander about your behavior!" Vinccenzo snaps.
"Sarge?"
The guard sergeant hesitates, sword gripped firmly in his right hand, and Mani tries to step inside out of the reach of Vinccenzo and the others. "They've gone mad! Kill them! Protect me, please!"
