Hit List: Victim One

[Kender Bard]

Cloak crouched with Calan at the back of the house of their mark--Gareth Dunsyre. It was a small home, as far as the nobility went, but still had all the trappings of the rich even if it looked as though it could use a bit of repair. The building seemed to breathe age and prestige.

"He should be in bed by now," Cloak whispered, her mouth next to his ear so she barely had to speak at all. "Do you want to get to the upper floor from out here or go in through the bottom floor first? We have a bit of time until that guard patrol comes by... But I don't believe he keeps any pets beyond that lizard."

[tuo]

Calan examined the house carefully before nodding towards the bottom floor. "Best we avoid risk being seen on rooftops if we can avoid it." He never really understood the fascination the kids had with entering through upper floors all the time anyways.

[Kender Bard]

Cloak nodded and moved along the side of the house, pressing up close to the building and staying low. As she approached the first window, she fussed with it a bit before shaking her head. "Locked," she whispered to Calan. Not that she had expected differently, but one could dream.

She reached into a pocket and took out her diamond-tipped glass cutter and got to work slowly scoring the glass of the window. It wasn't a silent process, but it was far, far quieter than simply smashing the window. Regardless, her teeth clenched a little at the noise. When she was done, she bound her hand in a handkerchief and pressed against the glass, slowly, carefully. The glass broke along the cuts, and Cloak reached in to unlock the window. A few moments later, it was open and she was gesturing for Calan to crawl through.

[tuo]

Calan smoothly crawls through the window, being careful not to step on any broken glass or anything else that may create a disruption. As he looks around, letting his eyesight adjust to the darkness he waves for Cloak to enter.

[Kender Bard]

Cloak slipped in quickly afterwards and then turned, closing the window gently. Leaving it open was just asking for some random passerby to notice. As she waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, she took in what details she could. The place was spacious but modest. The furniture wasn't extravagantly fine, nor did it fill the rooms. There were a few paintings and other wall furnishings to give the place a bit of life. There didn't seem to be anyone up and about.

Calan blinked and began to move forward slowly, stepping lightly to test the floorboards. They creaked a little, but nothing too bad. She gave Calan a nod and gestured with her hands, asking if he wanted to lead.

[tuo]

Calan gives her a slight nod before moving to carefully move up the stairs, testing each step to avoid any creaky steps for her to follow. On the way up he keeps alert for anything that could risk alerting the target.

[Kender Bard]

Cloak followed after Calan, lightly stepping where he stepped and straining her senses to pick up sound of servants or pets.

But the house was quiet. They navigated up the stairs with no problems revealing two long corridors with several door on each side.

Cloak oriented herself using the mental map she had of the place. Most of her knowledge on rooms rested on observed activities as she watched the house. She slowly held up her arm and pointed to the right side of the hall, tentatively suggesting that was where their mark lay.

[tuo]

Calan nods and begins to move down the indicated hallway, again testing the floor with each step to minimize noise while moving towards the first door.

[Kender Bard]

Cloak hastened after Calan and paused outside each door, leaning against it slowly and cautiously as she pressed an ear to the door and strained to pick out any distinguishing sounds.

But one couldn't linger too long. Once you were inside the house, you had to move quickly. Each moment wasted was a moment closer to a sudden discovery.

She ultimately had to go with her gut and pointed to the final door of the hallway. In there, she signed. She poked at one his pockets and mouthed, Tools? She had brought some of her own of course, but she'd always felt Calan had been better at oiling hinges.

[tuo]

Calan nods in response to Cloaks silent question and gestures for her to keep watch as he gets to work on silencing the hinges.

[Kender Bard]

Cloak did just that, drawing one of her daggers and holding it ready to fling at the first thing that moved in the darkness.

Once the hinges were well oiled, she took the lead, crouching down a little as she eased the door open a crack and peeked through. When nothing immediately seemed off, she opened the door a bit wider and slipped through.

Their target was asleep in bed, blankets only halfway on as he lay on his stomach, an arm and a foot outstretched. Curled up near his head, barely visible for her dark hide, was his pet shocker lizard.

[tuo]

Calan frowned at the close proximity of the shocker lizard, he had hoped it would be further away from the target. He gestured to the target to indicate that they should kill him first before dealing with the lizard. He then slowly drew a dagger out to minimize the noise.

[Kender Bard]

Cloak crept to the bed, stopping by the bed's middle. She would hold down the target as Calan killed him. They'd have to figure out the lizard together if it became a problem. So far, it hadn't stirred at Cloak's approach.