An assassin in his element

[mustact]

WHO: Ratonhnhaké:ton and Jon Snow
WHEN: About now
WHERE: The barracks of the Hand
WHAT: Infiltration and rescuing some mimes
WARNINGS: TBD

Shortly after they first arrived, Ratonhnhaké:ton had spent a long time familiarising himself with all the corners of the city. The barracks, however, he's mostly left alone, because drawing the ire of the Hand seemed like a bad idea. He's mapped out what he could of it from a distance, but he finds himself wishing, now, that he'd risked it after all. This way, he doesn't know too well what he can expect.

To hope to make up for it, he spends a day simply watching and observing, never staying too long in one place but just enough to work out when would be the most ideal time to sneak in. Night and the cover of darkness is simply the basics. Eagle Vision also helps him work out where to look to find the prisoners. So as he returns the next night, he feels pretty confident with his plan. The main issue is what the patrols are like inside, but there are still many hours of darkness, and once he's inside he can deal with that.

And, so, he makes to climb onto the roof.

Comments

[northerndragon]

Another quick nod.

"Aye. One of us does that, it's the best chance for us all." After a beat, he adds, "If any of you knows how to use a knife, you can take my other dagger and walk right ahead of me until we're free of this place. But gods willing, you won't need to use it."

[mustact]

Perhaps it's a lucky thing, after all, that he didn't go in here alone.

After a moment's pause, one of the women holds out a hand for the knife. As soon as she has it, she gets in position near Jon, and the rest follow by forming a line in-between Jon and Ratonhnhaké:ton. Even though they stay huddled together, it's a long line, and he doesn't entirely like the thought of relying on Jon to know what happens behind them all.

But there's nothing to do about that.

He walks over to the door, gestures for them to keep put, then makes sure the coast is clear. A part of him wants to stay put and memorise some of the guards' paths, but there's no guarantee no one will come in here, and so he gets moving as soon as he neither hears nor sees anything. He'll retrace their steps, even if it might be farther than other paths, if only because he knows for certain that leads out.

[northerndragon]

As they move through the place, back the way they came, Jon keeps an eye out behind them all. The performers may know their business, but most of them have also just woken up -- still, they are quiet enough as they file past the bodies of the unfortunate guards and through the passages.

The woman to whom he's given a dagger seems more than ready to use it, her hand wrapped tight around the handle, her knuckles white. But no real occasion presents itself.

Once, he hears something behind a door, but it seems to be just a man snoring and turning in his sleep.

[mustact]

There is a risk with so many people, but it turns out to also be a boon. With so many eyes and ears, they know to stop and wait, or backtrack a few steps to wait for a guard to pass by where they just were. It's painstakenly slow, but they eventually reach where Ratonhnhaké:ton and Jon entered, and now comes the task of helping these weak and tired artists onto the roof. Staying put for so long is a less than ideal, but if it comes down to it, they can keep climbing even if they are caught by one or two guards.

Maybe.

They don't have to find out, luckily. With some help, the artists get onto the roof, and Ratonhnhaké:ton and Jon can follow. From there, it's a lot easier. He's completely sure of where the patrols are (but they of course still proceed with caution) and can get them far enough away to get out of trouble.

Hopefully his patron can help them out now that they're out of there.