After Kory had healed, he and the girls took a wagon and headed towards the Palace of the old Grand Duke looking for D'Aastards, whereabouts.


Inola
Inola had gotten word, that D'Aastard was no longer there, but might have left a some clues to where he might currently be.

Using her connection with the guild master, she had been able to get him to authorize Kory the use of a wagon.

Before sending them off she warned him the guild master had some people also searching the area and not to play too rough with them.

Melinda Gail
Originally only wanting to take Melinda and Gail with him.

He eventually caved in and agreed allowed Quinlan and Ursula to accompany them, to appease Eve.
Eve Quinlan
Quinlan and Melinda, both having been there in the past and Quinlan more recently, proved useful.

The gaps in Melinda's knowledge of the palace's layout, where filled in to a large degree by Quinlan's, more recent visits.

Kory had suspected that Eve had suggested Quinlan go, mostly to get rid of her.

Much as he hated to take Quinlan with him, Eve had been right and the woman had been useful.

Quinlan drew out a rough map detailing the Palace and the area immediately surrounding it.


Ursula
While Melinda drove the wagon towards their destination, Ursula handed him, his old merc gear, newly resized and repaired.




It had been years since he had wore it, never expecting to be involved in a new war as a pimp.

While donning his gear, he felt a tinge of regret that he had not anticipated, that the girls would need armor too.

He had taught them to fight and defend themselves, mostly to keep themselves safe so that they could escape danger or last long enough for him to arrive and handle things.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, he pulled out the map Quinlan had drawn and studied it as they headed toward their destination.

Melinda whispered, "Kory, Kory we're here."

He looked at the girls, his party was much too large for his taste.

As much as he wanted to leave Quinlan to guard the wagon, he assigned that job to Ursula. She was a big woman and good in a fight, but also a pacifist by nature, so best suited for this job.

If it had been just him and Gail, they could have snuck in avoiding possible encounter's.

But as good as the map was, there where simply too many wholes in their memories, to ensure he could navigate the palace alone.


Exiting the wagon, he said
Gail Melinda Quinlan

We will sneak onto the palace grounds.

Ursula guard the wagon.



This message was last edited by the player at 13:51, Sat 03 Aug 2019.

The gates are wide open and you ride through, Melinds points toward the main entrance and that's where the wagon stops. Everyone dismounts  and the four of you head into the main door, standing ajar. There are people here and there, some are servants, others ruffians and one or two seem to be upper class. Melinda pulls you to the left and up stairs... no one pays much attention.
D'Astard's quarters are wide open... things are obviously riffled through ... but Melinda goes to the desk while Quinlan goes to his dresser, both seem to have some idea of what they are looking for... Gail stands beside you gawking   damn, they be a lot of house nay this big... an soft... the rugs, and furniture ... maybe I need to go upscale.

The situation was better and worst than he hoped, it looked like the organized resistance had already been handled.

All that remained where the dogs fighting over the scraps. He understood dogs, kick them with a strong boot and they would stay in line, show weakness and they will swarm you and pounce.

He looked over at Melinda, glad he had made her buy that hip quiver, at the right angle it showcased her ass, well.

"You definitely could do it, maybe Quinlan would give you some pointers and offer you some introductions." he said while he scanned the area making sure no one tried anything, as he spoke.

He and Quinlan often butted heads, not that she ever tried or wanted to assume power. He would have long ago gotten rid of her,if that was the case. She just had a habit of being a pain in his ass. 'She had a mouth on her.' he thought grinning and groaning inwardly at the same time.

Quinlan being a noble herself, knew how they operated, intimately, so he said, "That woman knows her stuff. Just don't let her infect you with her bullshit." ,complimenting Quinlan and beating her ego back down with his words.

'Let her know she's appreciated, but not special.' he thought.

"You stay you, Gail" he said, then smiled when his eyes fell upon the crowbar that dangled from her belt, like a teddy bear. For it brought back, pleasant emotions from the night he first met her.

This place would make a great whorehouse and would be an upgrade, from their spot in the basement of the Lusty Mermaid; but the staffing costs would break the pockets of many nobles, though the thought was a nice dream.

'Dream?' he scolded himself 'Business, its always about business.'

"You should help them look too Gail, but stay in eye-shot." he said in the gruff voice of a parent, warning their kids not to leave the yard while they played. Slapping her perfect peach-shaped buttocks hard with a firm hand; he sent her off on her task.

He patrolled the windows, glancing out hoping to find one that would let him keep an eye on Ursula too. Then he joined the girls in their search, staying alert to danger, for his greatest concern was their safety.

"Don't be shy about collecting any taxes, his lordship might have left us as recompense, for all the trouble he has caused the good citizens of Catheran." he added as he slid the mattress off it's frame and began cutting into both pillows and mattress with his knife, digging through their contents.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:37, Mon 05 Aug 2019.

Quilan Scolded Kory STOP!... these are people of substance, they don't hide things in a mattress. And those things are worth money!  She slips a side drawer out and giggles... they hide things like this ... she slides a narrow drawer out of the back side of the Drawer.
It's easily a span long and she drops 15 Gold Crowns into her hand along with a small velvet bag. It contains 6 gems.

Neither Melinda or Gail have found anything yet.

Squeezing his knife just a little tighter, he stabbed the mattress even harder one more time for good measure. It wasn't that he hated being wrong, he didn't like it, but it happens to everyone. What he hated was Quinlan being right.

"Don't forget my cut, you got taxes to pay too Quinlan; Kory tax." he said reminding her of what she already knew, out of spite.

Stand up from the mess on the floor, he methodically began to examine the bed frame, with his fingers, caressing every inch of it as if it was Eve's responsive body.

All the time, he remained silent not thanking her for the guidance, he would be damned if he stroked that ego.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:07, Tue 06 Aug 2019.

Gail finds some papers that direct people to send units and move in certain ways...  they are perhaps a day or so old, so of value to the soldier types perhaps.  You find nothing else.

Maybe we should try another room ... Baron de Sad or Count Turpitude's? Melinda suggests.

"Good ideal, Melinda" he says taking the papers from Melinda The guild will be interested in this, maybe interested enough to offer us some coin.

"And good find by you Quinlan too." he said as an after thought.

'She deserved some praise' he just hoped she wouldn't let it swell her head.

"If no one objects lets follow Melinda" he said,it wasn't that he ran a democracy, but he would be a fool to move on to the next room, before everyone was finished ravishing this one.

The girls all stop and head for the door.

Kory and the girls followed Melinda to Baron de Sad room.

Melinda has the lead and stops at the door to look and listen before slipping out into the hall, she leads you down the hall to a door that is Locked. She tries it several times, and uses some fore, but it doesn't open.

Kory waits for Melinda to open the door. Seeing that it is locked and won't budge he looks over at Gail and says, Girl it seems your up, see what you can do about that door.

Kory scans the hallway, continuing looking for any unwelcome visitor, who might have been drawn in by the noise.

There is noise off in the distance, but no one you can see close by. Gail pulls her 3 foot lock pick out and attend to the door. She has to apply herself and push hard, but the door opens with a banging noise.  There is a moan from inside.