Stepping back into the main flow of the common room, you deliberately avoid looking towards Elara Vane's booth. Projecting normalcy, you return to the end of the trestle table where your half-eaten bowl of 'End-of-the-Pot' stew sits cold and congealing. The two farmers have left, replaced by a couple of boisterous drinkers arguing loudly.
You slide back onto the bench, pick up your spoon, and resume eating the unpleasant stew as if nothing significant happened. Your outward demeanor is calm, perhaps slightly weary from travel, but inwardly, your senses are stretched taut. You use Oracle's passive monitoring like a radar, constantly checking Elara's location and status without turning your head.
<< Subject 'Elara Vane' remains in booth. Has taken another sip of drink. Head position indicates peripheral monitoring of common room, including host's general location. No overt signs of changed posture or preparation for action. Maintaining covert observation stance. >>
Good. She's watching, but not moving. Finishing the stew quickly, not tasting it, you stand up and head towards the stairs leading to the common loft, navigating the crowd once more. You climb the somewhat rickety wooden stairs to the upper gallery.
The common loft is exactly as advertised: a large, open space under the rafters, filled with perhaps twenty simple cots lined up side-by-side with minimal space between them. Most are already occupied by snoring, coughing, or muttering sleepers – travelers too poor or too frugal for private rooms. The air is thick with the smell of stale ale, sweat, and unwashed bodies. Dim light filters up from the common room below. You find an empty cot near the far end, thankfully not directly adjacent to the loudest snorer.
You place your few belongings (the sack with modern clothes, blanket, waterskin) under the cot near the wall, keeping the bum bag with your phone and valuables securely fastened around your waist. You loosen your sword belt but keep the sheathed sword right beside the cot, easily within reach. You lie down on the thin pallet, pulling the inn's equally thin, scratchy blanket over yourself. Rest will be difficult here, surrounded by noise and smells, and with the knowledge that a B+ assassin is likely observing you from below.
'Oracle,' you think, settling in, 'Maintain maximum alert status throughout the night. Focus particularly on Elara Vane's movements and proximity. Establish a proximity alert if she comes within... ten meters of this loft. Monitor all access points to the loft – stairs, any windows. Wake me instantly if any threat is detected.'
<< Acknowledged. Maximum alert parameters engaged. Continuous monitoring of designated target 'Elara Vane' and loft access points. Proximity alert set for 10 meters. Host will be alerted instantly upon threat detection or proximity breach. >>
With the AI acting as your tireless sentry, you close your eyes, though sleep feels distant. Your mind replays the day's events. The walk south, the brutal efficiency of the bandit takedown – Gronk's snapped knee, the sheer panic in Finn's eyes. It was controlled, calculated violence, practice almost. Then the encounter with Elara. Pulling information directly from her mind, the thrill and terror of the bluff, the icy danger in her eyes, the narrow escape from confrontation.
You analyze the bandit fight specifically. The non-lethal approach, guided by Oracle, worked perfectly against low-level opponents. You practiced precision strikes, assessed weak points (joints, nerves), and observed the psychological impact of sudden, incapacitating pain. Your unarmed combat skills, though rudimentary compared to your dagger/sword proficiency, felt smoother, more impactful with your enhanced stats. The kicks landed harder, the elbow strike was perfectly placed. This practical application feels like it cements the skills more effectively than just shadow-boxing or theory.
<< Combat analysis logged: Non-lethal engagement with three E/E- rank hostiles. Successful application of disabling techniques, psychological pressure, and crowd control (forcing rout). Proficiency gains allocated to Unarmed Combat (Basic) and Intimidation skills. >> Oracle confirms the experience gain. << Stat/Skill points automatically allocated. >>
You feel the familiar subtle enhancement, a further refinement of your physical and perhaps even mental attributes. The constant growth is addictive, reassuring.
Despite the noise and discomfort of the loft, and the lingering tension regarding Elara, exhaustion eventually claims you. You drift into a light, uneasy sleep, relying entirely on Oracle to be your eyes and ears, guarding against the dangers of the night in the unfamiliar, potentially hostile town of Bridgetown.
Time: Night (Sleeping fitfully)
Date: 03/05/1042 -> 04/05/1042
Character: Keelan
Stats: (Minor increases from bandit encounter XP)
- Strength (STR): 23
- Dexterity (DEX): 25 (Increased from 24)
- Intelligence (INT): 21
- Constitution (CON): 24 (Increased from 23)
- (Current Rank Estimate: B+)
Skills:
- Stealth: C+
- Dagger Combat: C+
- Sword Combat (Basic): E+ (Improved slightly from mental consolidation)
- Spear Combat (Basic): E
- Unarmed Combat (Basic): E+ (Improved from E)
- Combat Initiative: E+
- Threat Assessment: E+
- Intimidation (Basic): E (Gained)
- Basic First Aid (Modern): E
- Survival (Untrained): E
- Skinning/Butchery (Basic): E
You wake abruptly, not from noise, but from Oracle's internal chronometer nudging your consciousness. << 06:00 Hours. Local sunrise imminent. No threats detected during rest period. Subject 'Elara Vane' departed the inn common room approximately one hour ago, direction unknown but likely reconnaissance. >>
Good. She's already out, likely scouting the arrival point. That gives you time. The common loft is beginning to stir – coughing, groaning, the sounds of people reluctantly facing the morning. The smell hasn't improved.
Moving quickly and quietly, you gather your few belongings. You sling the sack with your old clothes, check your sword and knives, ensure the bum bag is secure. Descending the stairs, you bypass the inn's common room, which is just beginning to show signs of morning activity (Tom the innkeeper wiping down the counter), and slip out the main door into the cool, pre-dawn air of Bridgetown.
The streets are mostly empty, save for a few early risers – a baker opening his shop, a watchman finishing his patrol. The sky is paling in the east, promising a clear day. Recalling the information pulled from Elara's mind, you head towards the riverfront docks.
<< Target Location Identified from Subject Elara Vane's memory: River barge mooring point, south side of the Stone Bridge, near the 'Salty Siren' warehouse complex. Estimated arrival window for courier barge ('Midnight Heron'): Mid-morning, 09:00 - 11:00 based on river currents and standard schedules. >>
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Following Oracle's directions, you navigate the waking town. Bridgetown is clearly a trade hub. Even this early, you see signs of commerce – sturdy warehouses line the riverbank, cargo nets hang near cranes, the smell of fish and tar mixes with the usual town scents. You reach the designated area: a series of wooden docks extending into the river just downstream from the impressive stone bridge. Several smaller fishing boats are moored, along with a couple of larger, flat-bottomed cargo barges. Across a muddy track stand several large, windowless warehouses, one bearing a faded sign depicting a mermaid – likely the 'Salty Siren' complex Elara noted.
Now, to find an observation point. You need somewhere hidden, offering a clear view of the docks where the target barge will likely moor, but far enough away not to draw attention or be easily spotted by someone with Elara's skills.
'Oracle,' you think, 'Scan the immediate vicinity. Identify optimal concealment/observation points overlooking the barge mooring area south of the bridge.'
<< Scanning... Analyzing sightlines, potential cover, traffic patterns, structural integrity... >>
<< Optimal Locations Identified:
- Rooftop, Warehouse #3 (Adjacent to Salty Siren): Excellent overhead view. Requires climbing (moderate difficulty, DEX 25 sufficient). Risk of being spotted during ascent/descent or by rooftop patrols (low probability based on current activity). Offers good concealment behind chimneys/vents.
- Interior, Second Floor Window, Derelict Cooperage (Opposite Docks): Good angled view. Building appears abandoned. Entry requires bypassing boarded window (low difficulty). Risk of structural instability, attracting vermin or squatters (low probability). Offers excellent concealment from street level.
- Underneath Dock Pilings (Near South Abutment): Low angle view, partially obstructed. Excellent concealment in shadows. Requires navigating damp/muddy terrain. Risk of rising tide or attracting unwanted attention from dockworkers. >>
<< Recommendation: Rooftop Warehouse #3 offers best combination of visibility and concealment, leveraging host's Dexterity for access. Proceed with caution during ascent. >>
The rooftop sounds best. Challenging Elara on her own turf requires a superior vantage point if possible. Under the cover of the lingering pre-dawn gloom and sparse foot traffic, you make your way towards Warehouse #3. Finding a shadowed corner where drainpipes run down the stone wall and crates are stacked conveniently below, you begin to climb. Your enhanced strength and dexterity make short work of it. You move quickly, testing handholds, using the pipes and window ledges, until you haul yourself onto the relatively flat, tarred roof.
Just as Oracle predicted, several stacks of chimneys and ventilation shafts offer excellent cover. You position yourself behind one, peering over the edge. The view is perfect – a clear panorama of the docks, the river, the bridge, and the surrounding warehouses and streets. You settle in, hidden from below and shielded from the rising sun, ready to watch the morning unfold and wait for the arrival of the Midnight Heron and the deadly game about to be played for 'The Serpent's Eye'.
The town slowly comes to life below you. Dockworkers arrive, fishermen ready their boats, carts begin rumbling over the bridge. The sun climbs higher, warming the air. You remain patient, hidden, watching, waiting.
Time: Morning (Approx 8:45 AM)
Date: 04/05/1042
Status:
- Location: Concealed on rooftop overlooking Bridgetown docks.
- Activity: Waiting for target barge and Elara Vane's arrival/action.
- AI Status: Alert, monitoring docks and surrounding area, tracking Elara if detected.
Inventory: Unchanged
Hidden amongst the chimneys on the warehouse roof, you watch the docks below gradually bustle with morning activity. Your mind turns over the fragments of information gleaned from Elara Vane. The Syndicate wants an 'artifact' designated 'The Serpent's Eye', being transported by a courier on the Midnight Heron barge. They hired (or tasked) a B+ rank operative like Elara to intercept it. That implies significant value or importance.
What could 'The Serpent's Eye' be? The name suggests something reptilian, perhaps a jewel – a large emerald or a uniquely marked gemstone? Or maybe it's more literal – the preserved eye of some mythical serpent, imbued with magical properties? Artifacts in fantasy settings often grant powers, unlock secrets, or serve as keys. It could be a weapon component, a scrying device, a source of forbidden knowledge, or even a phylactery containing a powerful soul. Given the Syndicate's involvement, it's unlikely to be something mundane. Espionage, assassination... they deal in secrets, power, and high-stakes transactions. Whatever it is, it's valuable enough to risk exposure and employ top-tier talent for retrieval. Could you potentially acquire it yourself? The thought is tempting, but confronting Elara directly over it seems suicidal. Perhaps there's a way to intervene subtly...
You push the speculation aside for now and focus on observation. 'Oracle, maintain wide-area scan. Priority target: Elara Vane. Notify me the instant she is detected in the vicinity.'
<< Acknowledged. Wide-area scan active. Prioritizing detection of Subject 'Elara Vane'. >>
Hours pass slowly under the morning sun. You shift position occasionally behind the chimney stack to avoid stiffness, rationing sips from your waterskin. The river traffic increases. Several barges arrive and moor, unloading timber, grain, barrels of ale. None match the name Midnight Heron. Dockworkers shout, cranes creak, merchants haggle. The rhythm of commerce flows below.
Finally, around 10:30 AM, Oracle gives a silent ping. << Target 'Elara Vane' detected. Location: Rooftop of Salty Siren warehouse (adjacent north). Stationary. Concealed position adopted. Observing dock approach channel. >>
You carefully adjust your own position, trying to catch a glimpse of her without exposing yourself. You spot a flicker of movement on the neighboring warehouse roof – just a shifting shadow near a water barrel – confirming Oracle's report. She's chosen a similar vantage point, likely having arrived earlier and remained perfectly still until now.
Almost simultaneously, another notification: << Barge matching description 'Midnight Heron' detected approaching from upstream. Estimated docking time: 10-15 minutes. Visible markings: Dark hull, single mast, faded black bird insignia on sail (barely visible, sail mostly furled). Cargo appears minimal, primarily passenger transport configuration. >>
Your gaze shifts downriver. A medium-sized, rather unassuming barge chugs slowly towards the docks, propelled by the current and occasional poling from figures onboard. It looks ordinary, almost deliberately so. Ideal for discreet transport.
You watch intently as the Midnight Heron maneuvers towards an empty spot along the main dock, directly below your vantage point and Elara's. Lines are thrown, secured. A simple gangplank is lowered. Only a few passengers disembark – a couple of weary-looking travelers, a merchant clutching a ledger. Then, one more figure steps onto the gangplank.
He's human, middle-aged, dressed in the non-descript garb of a river trader or clerk. He carries a simple leather satchel slung across his shoulder. He doesn't look like a warrior or someone carrying a priceless artifact – he looks deliberately unremarkable. The courier.
<< Target 'Courier' identified based on Elara Vane's focused attention shift and physiological readiness indicators (subtle muscle tension, focused gaze). Courier possesses no significant combat abilities (Rank E). Satchel confirmed as likely container for Asset 'The Serpent's Eye'. No overt security escort detected for courier. >>
The courier steps onto the dock, glances around briefly as if getting his bearings, and starts walking towards the warehouses, heading away from the main town square. His path will take him directly past the alleyway between Warehouse #3 (your building) and the Salty Siren (Elara's building).
On the adjacent roof, you see the subtle shift again. Elara is preparing to move. She'll likely drop down into the alley to intercept the courier in that more secluded spot, away from the open dock.
This is the moment. Elara is about to make her move on the unsuspecting courier to retrieve 'The Serpent's Eye'.
Time: Mid Morning (Approx 10:45 AM)
Date: 04/05/1042
Status:
- Target Acquired: Courier carrying 'The Serpent's Eye' has disembarked from the 'Midnight Heron'.
- Elara Vane: In position on adjacent rooftop, preparing to intercept courier in nearby alley.
- Keelan: Observing from optimal vantage point, undetected. Moment of action approaching.
Inventory: Unchanged