[Riparia] Night Ops (Ogrim & Jayden)

[Mike]

After Eckel's earlier report of the two Coven members slain the night before, the industrious dorin had done well to acquire more information on the matter. Foolishly, one of the now deceased had been carrying his official papers with him. Not a smart move for one who would otherwise have wanted to remain anonymous. The papers were the key that had opened the door on tonight's activities. Eckel had simply checked the man's name on the city registrar to ascertain if he held property here in Riparia. The Aedile's Office had confirmed this to be so and, since the dorin had made the matter official by acquiring a warrant to search the premises, the Aedile had even provided a key.

What was not official though were the two members of the Brotherhood that now accompanied the dorin. In days before, Ogrim would have had to sneak around the city or face getting into a fray with any number of guards or stubborn citizens who did not take kindly to his sort. These days, you were just as likely to see an orc wandering the street as you were a katta. Humans were still the most common of folk here, making up perhaps 50% of the overall population. The other half was a selection of katta, dorin, orcs, elves, dwarves and even a handful of vysticchi. A strange city indeed.

The strange trio of dorin, orc and human, made their way into the night, their destination close by and a key with which to gain entrance. Their task was quite simple. Find any clues or information that would lead to the discovery of more members of the Coven of Twilight. Destroying the Coven was priority number one for Ogrim and his Brotherhood.

[Ogrim]

Ogrim padded after Eckel with as little sound as he could. The orc eschewed conventional footwear, preferring to tightly bind his ankles and lower shins in cloth instead, only the bridge of his foot was covered by the material, under and over leaving the toughened pads of his forefoot and heel bare. The greenskin had reasoned long ago that a creature his size needed all the advantages he could get when attempting anything that required even a modicum of stealth and boots, no matter how soft soled, would be a liability.

As he followed the dogling, Ogrim spoke nary a word, his commands were conveyed with blunt hand movements as silence in this operation was paramount. Behind the orc was Jayden, the Brotherhood’s newest prospect. Naturally the human had a great deal more aptitude for quiet than the orc and the role of hindmost scout had fallen to him. If anyone were to be tailing them, Jayden should be able to remain unobserved and voice a warning. Ogrim doubted even the most sharp eyed informant would be able to spot the ebon skinned manling in the void like blackness of the Riparian back streets.

Breathing deeply through his mouth and his nose simultaneously, the greenskin sampled the air for anything that would be out of the ordinary. His remaining eye also pierced the darkness, though it was the ambient heat in the air that he saw, rather than the more conventional vision that other races possessed. An obvious advantage when a possible assailant was cleverly hidden. Heat does not lie.

Waving the party on in silence, Ogrim indicated that they should halt within safe observation distance of their intended target.

[Jayden Oroth]

Jayden relished darkness. It had always brought an aspect of safety with it, even as a young child. Initially, amidst the Arakmatan wilderness, darkness meant freedom from the relentless suns of Telath and bandit raids. But now, in a much cooler climate, the end of a brightening meant a completely different kind of protection entirely: stealth; secrecy; invisibility. From the moment dusk gave way to darkening, until dawn clawed its way across the horizon, Jayden was able to wear the blackness around him like a blanket – something he had done on many occasions.

The Nairu steeled himself, the cool city air brushing against his face, as he quietly made his way behind Ogrim and Eckel towards the home of the recently killed Coven member. Despite the confidence that he presented, this was very much unchartered territory for the human male. He had used trickery and subterfuge to break into buildings before, but never on this scale; never a building belonging to a member of an organised crime group.

He was on the lookout – naturally – for anything he felt the group should be aware of. For the most part, that meant members of the Riparian Guard, but anyone approaching the group unseen deserved conscious attention. Staying close to Ogrim but constantly looking over both shoulders, Jayden noted that he had finally found a benefit for the orc’s stench. He could basically follow the Brotherhood leader by odour alone, while keeping his gaze focused firmly behind the group.

[Mike]

Eckel had come wearing a dark two piece outfit made of fine black wool, a suitable set of garments for the task they were now performing. Likewise, Ogrim and Jayden were equally kitted out as the occasion required. Creeping along, they endeavoured to travel where they could via the backstreets, of which there were many in Riparia. It could be a maze to the untrained, a tool for survival for those that new the layout.

The house in question was owned by the former member of the Coven, (and the living), by the name of Jake Santini, a human that had apparently earned a living working in one of the many warehouses of Riparia. It was unskilled work for unskilled men, where only brawn was a useful tool. That led to the conclusion that Jake had mostly likely been a 'foot soldier' for the Coven. Such thugs had their uses of course.

Ogrim soon put up the order to halt as they reached the street they had come to find. Around the next corner would be a row of houses, one of which was their intended destination. One problem though. Eckel had made mention of a tavern two doors down. Such places were havens for people this time of night. They would have to be extra careful not to be uncovered in their actions. While the Coven had thus far demonstrated themselves as lacking any hint of intelligence, they might still have had reason to visit the house themselves. After all, what was to stop the Riparian Guard searching the place? They would be after Coven members as much as the Brotherhood.

"We should split up my master. The house is approachable from three sides. This corner will approach it from the right. Someone can go back that way and around to the other side, while a third can head past this turn and approach from the back. The decision is, of course, yours my master".

[Ogrim]

Ogrim listened attentively to Eckels counsel and bobbed his head in understanding. ”Aye, you’re right. That tavern could prove a concern, but if we are prudent and cunning then we have no reason to be anxious. Not that I expect you two to be afflicted with that particular problem.” Thinking on the immediate task, approaching and entering the house without observation, Ogrim quickly formulated a method.

”Eckel, you will gain us entry to the house. Jayden, you will approach from the right though at a distance so that you can keep watch over Eckel and signal a warning if needed, the tavern will be within sight but from your vantage you shall be able to take in the whole street and whoever stumbles out of the ale house. I’ll backtrack to the rear of the property. My size does not lend itself to silent unseen movement and I’d be a liability to you out there. Once inside, incapacitate anyone you find and lock the door once more, then move to the back and unlock the door there."

"I will remain outside, out back and hidden. That’s our path of retreat. Questions?”

If there were none, Ogrim motioned for the group to proceed.

[Mike]

Eckel listened intently as Ogrim laid down the plan. Jayden might have added his own thoughts, but the dorin interrupted before the human could speak his mind. "Forgive me master, but might I suggest the pup takes point? It might well be good practice for him and I think I would be better used as lookout".

It might have been a strange request if not for one thing. Jayden. While Eckel thus far had demonstrated he was capable and resourceful, one might have taken his suggestion as the very anxiety that Ogrim had spoken of. While it was feasible that he merely saw this as an opportunity for Jayden to prove his worth, it also reeked of the cunning of a coward. Jayden could not be sure, but he wondered if the dorin was trying to get out of his task because he saw it as too dangerous.

[Ogrim]

”Aye.” Ogrim placed a massive hand on the dorins shoulder. ”If you weren’t so valuable, I’d have eaten you by now.” Ogrim grinned evilly and barked mirthfully. ”Lucky for you dorin tastes horrible and the fur sticks in my teeth.”

Assuming a more serious tone, Ogrim spoke to Jayden. ”You heard the dogling. You take Eckels position, Eckel’ll take yours. Now both of you piss off, I’m going round back.”

Making a typically polite goodbye, the Orc rose from his crouch and stalked off into the night to circle around. He chose a wide arc so as not to arouse suspicion. His part was the simplest and he entrusted his minion to instruct the Nairu.

[Jayden Oroth]

Jayden smirked at Eckel’s suggested change of plan. Whether it was borne of cowardice or cunning, the Nairu couldn’t tell. It was, he deduced, probably a combination of both.

Either way, it made little difference to the situation at hand. There was still a house to gain entry to, and there was still an opportunity and an expectation for Jayden to prove himself to Ogrim. And to be fair, he and Eckel probably would be more effective with their roles reversed. The dorin’s nose could scout far better than Jayden’s eyes ever could, and the Arakmatan’s dark skin and stealth training gave him the advantage when it came to approaching the house unseen.

Nodding silently as the Brotherhood leader made his exit, Jayden glanced briefly over at Eckel, giving the dorin what could best be described as a stoic expression, then made his way, slowly and carefully, towards the house. Confident that Ogrim’s informant would find a good position to scout from, Jayden made his way into the shadows of nearby buildings, knowing full well that some shades of black were darker than others, the Nairu a firm believer that one could never be too concealed.

Gently brushing his hand along the surface of the building as he walked, Jayden planned to pause at the very edge of the last piece of effective cover offered to him. Then he would pause and study the layout of the house from outside, attempting to familiarise himself with the layout of the abode, while also analysing any potentially inviting entry points that he could see.