---

@Nashie
@Blizzardofoz123
@Ember Storm
The cistern was a wide open circular room, with shallow, foot deep water on the ground, no sounds, other than dripping and flowing of water from the many pipes on the walls. A single door was at the end of the room, looked to be a maintenance door for workers down here. The ceiling consisted of a metal grate.

Then, a pair of voices broke the silence, two guards.
Gustrag is really upping on security up there...
He's paranoid. He doesn't want things to go awry.
I just think it's boring down here, when do we get to see some action? I'd rather be up there, entertaining guests. Heard there are some nice Yiskin girls there
Enough. We do our job and keep quiet... And keep an eye on the holding cells. Not as many people are able to keep him in check so we need to be extra careful.

---

Listening in, Yoshimi looked up, as the guards continued, before looking to the others. "Come on, I'm tired of standing in this muck." Then a pause, as she thought of what they said, "Think we should check out these holding cells?" She said, as she walked towards the next door.

---

@MercuryNH
@hefewy
@Ember Storm
The building was large, the blue lighting of the room, due to the rune lamps around the area, gave the whole room a almost ethereal vibe. Surrounding the entry foyer was a balcony, accessible by stairs in the same room, where more guests were located. Who knew this many people managed to get invites. Where they all black market dealers? Members of the Children?

Up on the balcony, overlooking the guests, was the owner of the estate himself. A large, obese, man, clad in a neat looking suit and mask that encompassed his face, Gustrag. As the group would enter the party, and the numerous guests began to get comfortable, Gustrag would tap a glass, ready to make a speech, speaking in a authoritative, but friendly voice.

Attention! Attention!
Humble guests, friends, and allies. Newcomers and recurring guests. A moment of your time...
Those of you who have come here to forget your worries, be merry and forget about what troubles you for one night. For those of you who just want to have a good time? Do so at your leisure. For those of you here for business? I'll see to it that you're happy.

Raising his class, the broker finished

So here is to a fine night!

---

Turning to Mercury, Gregor asked, as he made his way into the party. Any reason he might be here? I won't ask if ya don't wanna answer.

As the man made his speech, Gregor shook his head, leaning against a nearby pillar. Listen to him... He speaks like he's some sort of humble host, but deep down he is as worse as they come. Taking out his pipe, Gregor lit up; the best part about making deals with a bunch of criminals, is that half of the time no one cares if you smoke in doors. "ALright, game plan. Look for a way we can get to the back room.

@Patches
>Johnny kept his voice just above a whisper.
"Ah reckon we oughta. If it's Gustrag keepin' this fella all caged up, then he might just be a powerful buddy to have."
>Though, he didn't hop out of the pipe just yet. No need to make all that noise and dirty his boots until he knew precisely where he was going.

@Patches
@Nashie
Astrid slid two throwing knives out and spun them through the gloved fingers of each hand. "If we are to open dhe cells, we should make ssir to silence dhe guards, yes?" she whispered. "Perhaps one of dheir 'Yiskin girls' can say hello, I dhink?" Her face betrayed no emotion. Even with an idea like that, she remained stoney and calm as she awaited a response, fully expecting someone to shoot down her plan. She scoffed silently. Astrid can handle two young bastards, she thought. You can leave dhem to me.

---

@Patches
Duff glanced around the crowded room. Even when he was in the army, parties and gatherings were never this pompous. He judged it all silently, somewhat irked at just how much the event lacked personality behind the thin veneer of circumstance. Back home, they knew how to put on a shindig. Music everyone'd join in on. Fresh food and lots of it, not this "gourmet" that was more about presentation than substance. "I'll keep my eyes out, mate." he said softly, glad there was something for him to do that didn't involve socializing all that much. The Aborranian stayed within appropriate distance of Gregor, playing his role as bodyguard as well as he could - though he was tall, his reedy frame did not strike much of an intimidating stance, but he had his rifle, and that was enough for him. As ordered, he watched for an opening into the back rooms of the mansion, trying to find a way around that wouldn't alert anyone to any untoward activity. If he was magic, he'd probably be able to throw some sort of shroud over himself like that Dweller Gall could. Still, being non-magical had its uses, and they might just come in really handy in a place like this, a place that Duff could tell was positively swarming with Casters and probably a few Amalgamates.

@Ember Storm
@Nashie
@Patches
Kordan's own response to this was to look down the culvert, weighing his options. He could fill the room in front of them with fire. That usually worked... no, no. They needed to be stealthy, right. Slipping the welding goggles that were on his head over his eyes, he reached into his pocket to offer the rest of the group a pair.
"You might need these if we get into a scrap. Lightning's harsh on the eyes..."
he said, realizing he had no way of fighting that was even remotely quiet. Even his different windstorm techniques would raise a racket through these pipes. Looking frustrated, he nodded to Astrid.
"We're not here to be nice to them. You can probably do it quieter than me. I'll stick to being the flashlight for now." He said, keeping his hand ablaze so they could all see.

@Patches
Well, I have no idea who he is, so I wouldn't know. Honestly, it's probably better that way.

>There's a lot about her family that she doesn't know right now, come to think of it. She has no idea where her mother is, or what she's been up to. She doesn't know any extended family, and as discussed, she has no clue who or where dad is. Gregor's question prompts a lot of rapid thoughts before his comment on Gustrag drags her back into the moment.

Yeah, I'll bet that's pretty common among these fat-cat rich types, gild your life to hide your faults.

>At that, she takes to surveying the scene, casually making her way through the crowd, perhaps snagging an hordourve or two as she passes by a table. Doing her best to appear the typical party-goer as she learns everything she can about that room and how to get into it.

@Patches

Daud casually wandered around the mansion, staying in a somewhat close proximity to his fake "charge", to keep up appearances if nothing else. It was at the speech that he knew that he needed to put it in gear, and get something done. Each breath that fat, corrupt man took angered Daud to his core. Gustrag was prosperous, not from hard work, but from crime, and Daud had to hold himself back from shouting just what he thought of him up at the balcony.

After the speech was over, he approached Gregor and spoke to him in a hushed tone.

"I don't suppose simply breaking through the walls is an option..." He muttered, before sighing and shaking his head. "Another minute around these toadies and I might explode."

Briefly looking about, he leans back in towards Gregor. "Have any idea where the door might be? Could it be hidden?"

@Nashie@Ember Storm@Blizzardofoz123
As the group got ready to enter, one of the guards began to leave the room, heading elsewhere in the complex, while the other one stayed behind. Yoshimi worked on trying the heavy door open to the next room. Before going through to confront the lone guard, she pulled a pair of her own goggles from the many pockets on her pants. I never leave home without them. Prevents getting sparks from work in my eyes.

"Now or never guys" Yoshimi said, looking to Astrid, "You got them? Once we're through, we should search for those papers, right? That or look for whoever they're holding... Or" Yoshimi cracked her knuckles through her gauntlets, putting emphasis on her words, Take them for questioning to find our way around.

---

@Ember Storm@MercuryNH@hefewy
"Gild your life to hide yer folks, story of my life. Only difference between him and I is that I don't support human trafficking or trampling innocent people underfoot."

The Party was going on without a hitch, a few awkward stares were gathered from people staring at the odd group. A shading looking man with a large scar on his face, a foreigner to Kokotha, a rather strong looking woman, and a knight from the Old Path.

Keep it together, big guy. Gregor said, trying to act casual, Look over there... Gregor said, motioning to the back of the room, far from the group. A group of 3 people being lead into what looked like the upper rooms of the manor by a guard. One of them presenting a piece of paper to the guard I was told that the upper floors were off limits to guests, but I guess not... VIPs maybe?

Leaning against a nearby wall, Gregor asked, keeping his voice quiet enough so that they could still hear him but also so it could be masked by the music playing Any of your good at pickpocketing? I have an idea...

@Patches
"Never been one fer close range stuff, mate," Duff said. "But what's yer idea? P'raps there's another plan hidin' in th'woodwork, eh?" the Aborranian grinned. "Now, I may be a stranger t'Kokotha, but what might Gustrag have up in those rooms what people might be innerested in? If yeh know what yer lookin' fer up there... what about jus' walkin' up an' askin'? D'we know what they go up there fer?" he asked, nodding to the folks talking to the guards. He squinted, trying in vain to read the lips of the party-goers that were heading upstairs. Perhaps if he got closer to them, he'd be able to hear what they were going for... but how to do that without painting a massive target on oneself?

@Patches
@Ember Storm
Johnny's gaze found it's way to the grated ceiling and whispered to the group again.

"Y'all seem to have this bit handled. Ah'll make m'self useful by investigatin' up over yonder." He said, pointing towards the ceiling. With that statement made, Johnny seemed to fall to dust again. The last solid part of him to vanish being the hand pointing towards the ceiling. If they paid attention, they would see him re materializing on top of the grates in a crouched position.

@Patches
@Nashie
Almost simultaneously, Astrid shifted into mist herself, flowing underneath the door before reforming right behind the now lonely guard. "I hear you like Yiskin girls," she said softly before stabbing him in each jugular artery with the throwing knives she had been playing with. "A real ssame," she continued, "Because I am dhe last one you will meet." She lowered him gently to the floor before approaching the second one from behind, ready to grab him for interrogation purposes.

@Ember Storm@Nashie@Patches
Seems the others had this well under way... shame, nobody had taken up his offer for the goggles. Putting them on his own head, he made sure the world was nice and dim. Since the rest of them had found alternative ways around the door, he figured he'd use his own patented lockpicking technique.

"Stand aside Yoshimi. I got this one."

Going up to the door, he cracked his fingers. Liquid blue began to flow from his palm as he placed it over the latch. Making it seep through the doorjamb, into the lock, and around the doorframe, the whole door was outlined with a faint blue glow, before...
WHUMPH-CRUNCH
The door was battered on all sides by a muffled explosion. Unless it was enchanted, the steel pressure door would crumple like a soda can, the explosion muffled by the steel and brick to only resonate through the room they were in, and the room beyond.
"See? I can do breakins. They brought me for a reason!"

@Patches@Ember Storm

>Pick-pocketing and eavesdropping? Sounds like a job for the street kid.

As it just so happens, being sneaky is my specialty~

>Growing up on the streets of New Wickborough taught her to train her slight-of-hand skills to what some would call a rather sketchy extent. That's what happens when you have to steal to survive, though.

Let's see who's saying what.

>At this, she begins to channel her magic through her ears, boosting her hearing just enough to pick up an average voice level from across the room. That done, she attempts to focus on anyone heading for the upper floors. Hopefully she'll pick up something useful, perhaps even find a target for her sticky fingers~

@Patches
@Ember Storm
@MercuryNH

Daud scratched the back of his neck as he watched the guests going upstairs, thinking to himself, trying to figure out a way to get up there. While he was educated in both lore and weaponry, he was rather lacking in the social interaction department. However, it was at the mention of a pickpocket, and the foreigner volunteering, that he snapped out of his thoughts.

"Hmph, a pickpocket..." He mumbled, clearly showing his disdain for the 'specialty' the young girl bragged about. "If its necessary... I suppose it can't be helped. Be careful, girl."

Despite his reservations to the plan, he nonetheless gave Merc a pat on the shoulder, before leaving her to do her thing.

@Patches Maybe I missed this, but what is the RP's Discord?

He had recently arrived in Kokotha. A mauve trenchcoat fell soft to the city concrete as he walked. There was an elegant band slid along his right index finger and a red lollipop shuffled in the corner of his mouth. Visible on his hips were a sheathed rapier on the right and a sheathed Estoc on the left, why he chose the Rapier's bulky handle that often snagged against the fabric of his coat was a mystery even to himself. He also adjusted his walk to more of a bop-hop than anything which resembled a normal gait. It made him looked comedic and unorthodox in body, and outright weird amidst the social elite.

He didn't care about any of that, today he was looking for a drink and some peace. Kokotha may not be the place to get both in the same, but he sure was going to get one of them before his stay here was up. He passed a high-class looking cafe: drink it was. He pulled open the cafe door and limbered inside, he didn't bother socializing with people who already thought themselves better than he was. Tetu came from nobility, but these rich people were different. They were new money. Big. Everything had an air of grandiose and a stench of avarice about it. Even in this hippy haven. Some part of him felt swallowed; he was inside the belly of a beast whose hunger these peons could never satiate.

He ordered himself a mocha. He didn't even like coffee, it stained his teeth--and he spent at least twenty minutes a day brushing, flossing, and swirling mouthwash to ensure his dentals had no dirt whatever in or atop them.

@hefewy@MercuryNH@Ember Storm
If they were to listen closely and pay attetnion to what some of the people at the party were saying, they would pick up on a few things. A few pointless conversations that provided no info, such as life stories and observations about a few party guests, but soon, one particularly would come up, from a pair of people, standing at an ice sculpture in the center of the room.
Did you see the man walking into there
The Gishka? No, why do you ask?
That place is VIP only... That man had to be loaded.

Gregor inspected the party goers, looking for each individual one that could have one of the passes. With as much subtlety as he could, he tapped Merc's shoulder. Kid... That guy over there. He said, pointing to a older looking man, looking out the window of the building. Saw him showing it off earlier, it's in his left back pocket.

Then, to Duff and Daud, Gregor motioned to them. Watch her back, if she gets in trouble, we need to pull her out of it. If needed, we might have to distract a guard.

@Blizzardofoz123@Nashie@Ember Storm
Well, needless to say, the destruction of the door caught the attention of the guards very easily.
"Intruders!" One of them shouted, readying his gun, but before he could reach for it, he quickly met his end at Astrid's hand. One down, one to go. The security down here really was a bit more relaxed.

I'll get the second one. Yoshimi said, making a beeline for the second one Kordan, cover me!

Up above, as Johnny would reform, he would find himself in a wide open room, with a table in the center of the room, an operating table, covered in what looked like dried blood. The walls were covered in pictures of autopsies, medical forms, and medical charts. Before inspection could be done though, the sound of guards moving closer could be heard. This way! I heard the sound over here.

@Patches
Duff nodded, keeping Mercury in the corner of his eye. The trick here, he knew, was to watch without making it obvious that you were doing so. Being obvious might draw attention to the young pickpocket, and that would destroy this whole mission. "So, Gregor," he said, making what most would just ignore as idle conversation, "Whaddaya think's behind that wall of guards that people want, eh? An' who th'fuck's this 'Gishka' they're talkin' about?" He was genuinely curious.

@Patches
"Ah hell" Johnny whispered to himself. Reflexively, Johnny drew his gun. Only for him to immediately holster it again. There might have still been a chance to keep this stealthy. So instead of drawing his gun, Johnny just posted himself against the door he heard potential hostiles coming from. His Wakazashi freed from it's sheath.

@Afro Samurai
~Jeez, who's tall, dark and brooding over there?~ Lucy thought to herself as she sipped at her iced mocha, partially-eaten bagle on the plate in front of her.

Lucy was sitting at a small table by herself, in a simple white shirt, black dress pants and bowler hat, hair cropped short. She wasn't on a mission, and so had come to the cafe in a more casual outfit.

~Don't remember seein him before, and he doesn't seem like the kinda fella you could miss~

Lucy eyed the strange man intently, not even trying to hide her scrutiny. On the outside, it would just look like she narrowed her eyes. Only the most astute and magically knowledgeable would notice the shifting of skin that indicated a changing of muscular structure in her eyes. Her vision augmented, she took note of as many physical features as she could of the strange man.

He knew good and well he was bound to stick out in an environment such as this. He was, apart from his peacock-bright clothing and contrasting chocolate skin, quite different. He aptitude for 'feeling' things was refined, sharpened over decades of magic training. Tetu could always pick up someone spying him, but most of those glares lacked the predatory weight these did. He didn't even have to turn and search for the person to whom this piercing glare belonged. Whoever they were, he knew they were different. He could sense it just like he could sense the subtle movements he made when he coursed his blade up to his opponent's throat. He felt things with more sensitivity than most--and it wasn't just arbitrary "gut" feelings, either.

"Two more mochas, please. One strong, nice and black." his request rushed soft off the tip of his tongue, overt and sensual--even though that wasn't his intent.

And with that he spun around in the chair where he was met with a crowd of bodies. He spoke past them with intention, the chatter wasn't loud enough to drown out his voice.

"Observant. I like it." His words sawed through the patrons and directly at the one to whom the set of intrusive staring eyes belonged.

@Yomojo