Infiltrating the city

Lily: Okay, so, we are going to infiltrate the city, but how are we going to be doing that exactly? I don't think there are going to be parts of the wall that are unguarded during times like these!

Robert: Don't worry my lady, I know how to do that. I know of a secret entrance through the walls near the coast.

Lily: How do you know that?!

Robert: As I have already said before, I was stationed in a nearby castle some years ago. A few of my fellow Templars were using this ancient entrance to... Khm... do their immoral businesses...

Lily: So they were in the city to visit the brothels?

Robert: Yes, exactly... But that's not what's important right now!

Lily: Okay, so we have a way in... Will our friends manage to keep the city encircled only with the help of our knights? They aren't that numerous...

Robert: I have already contacted the Templar master of the castle, he agreed to send out his men to assist us, given that a member of Sofia's order is truly in the city.

Lily: Robert you are great, have you planned this all along?

{if Erik = true}Erik (sarcastically): Yeah... "great..."{endif}

Robert: On the way here, yes. So, off we go then!

You follow him to the entrance of a tunnel that leads right under the walls. Each of you put on a cloak and a hood to cover your identity. {if Erik = true}Erik is especially easy to recognise, as he has a blonde hair and beard, not really common in this area. {endif}It was covered with branches and some leafs to cover it from those who do not expect to find it here. You clear the path and enter. Thanks to the darkness, the guards on the walls didn't notice you as you approached the wall under the trees. Now, you are already inside the city! The tunnel leads to a tavern's cellar, that's neighboring a brothel. No man of honour would ever come to this place! The direct end of the tunnel is a big empty barrel, Robert opens it's side from the inside and you are already free to move throughout the city.

Lily: Fantastic, this went better than I expected! How are we going to find Sofia in this city?!

Robert: Fear not my lady, all was planned well ahead! I still have a few contacts in the city I can trust, we will have her in no time!

You walk upstairs and nobody cares about how you got down there in the first place. Only the bartender does, as he knows of the secret entrance. Robert tosses a gold coin to him to keep his mouth about what he saw, but he raises two of his fingers.

Robert: 2 more...? Really...? The tariffs have risen since my last time here...!

Bartender: We are all suffering from inflation my good sir!

He tosses two more coins to him and he returns to cleaning his cups. You leave the tavern and follow Robert to the slums where he begins knocking on a door. The whole house looks like it's about to collapse anytime soon... A man knocks back on the door from the inside.

Lily (whispering): Why is he knocking back...? Isn't he supposed to open the door?

Robert (whispering): He is waiting for my response, he needs the password. I have to knock 6 times quickly then 9 times slowly.

After he makes the knocks, the man opens the door and you go inside. The house looks pretty well from the inside, you wouldn't have guessed it at first look.

Man: So you came back Robert, long time no see! How may I be of assistance? I'm sure you didn't come all the way out here only to say hello to an old friend!

Robert: Yes, forgive my bad manners! I'm looking for a woman named Sofia, she is dressed as a nun, must have arrived in the last few days, if she is here at all...

Man: I'll fetch my "little birds" and see what I can find. At the meantime, please, take a seat or lay down and rest. It might take a while... I'll have your answers in a few hours. You don't feel like sleeping at a place like this, but Robert ensures all will be well, he knows the man, used to be a Templar himself once.

Lily: What did he mean by "little birds"?

Robert: He is the most well connected man of the city. He pays a good wage to the poor children of the slums to keep their eyes and ears open for any information. If Sofia is here, he'll know of it!

Lily: Why did he leave the Templar order...?

Robert: He couldn't stop gathering information about the whoring knights and once he had evidence against the master of the nearby castle. He was expelled the next day he presented them to the council. We better take a rest, when we get up we will have to capture Sofia if she is here and drag her out of the city to end this calamity.

You nod in acknowledgement and just lay down on a fur and try to sleep as much as you can. Hours later, the informant wakes you up and confirms that Sofia indeed is inside the city, she is in a tavern next to the church. You thank him for the information and go straight to capture her. The darkness works in your favour, none of the night patrols really care to check your identity as you pass them. When next to the said tavern, Robert offers to go inside first and incapacitate her, in case she slips away, you could still catch her at the entrance. The tavern is very lively even at this nightly hour, the loud voices of people and the sounds of glasses being knocked together makes a good cover for any potential fight breaking out between you and Sofia. {if Erik = true}Erik stands at one side of the door, while you stand at the other.{endif}{if Erik = false}You stand next to the door, waiting for either her or both of them to come out.{endif} The sun is coming up, you don't have much time before the catapults begin firing on the city, making your life harder inside.

Within a few minutes you hear a scream from a woman and the sound of furniture being knocked over. You ready yourself, as this certainly didn't sound like a successful operation. Listening at the front door carefully, you hear somebody running towards the door from the other side. When the door opens, you throw yourself at the person opening it, pushing them to the ground. To your luck, it was Sofia!

Sofia (recognizing you): You again...?!

Lily: Long time no see!

Sofia (struggling to get out of you): Help! Somebody help!

The usual night patrol, consisting of around a dozen men, swiftly runs to the scene, given that this was the centre of the city, there were many guards around. They grab you both by your hands.{if Erik = true} Erik meanwhile to avoid being caught, blends into the crowd gathering at the commotion, hoping to free you at the perfect moment.{endif}

Guard: What in the devil is this all about?!

Sofia: She was trying to kill me! I'm only a humble servant of god almighty!

Lily: She's lying, she's no more a nun than you or me!

Guard: Girl, were you trying to steal her money?

Lily (lifting her robes to show off her clothes): No, definitely not! Look at my dress! I'm a lady, I wouldn't need her money!

Guard: Hm, true, one of such status wouldn't try to rob a nun! Alright men, it seems this was no more but an other catfight between two woman in over their heads!

Sofia: Wait, you can't just go...! They are outsider, they are with the enemy trying to besiege the city!

Guard: Those are some pretty wile claims woman... Do you have a proof...?

Robert (running out of the tavern with a drawn sword): Lady Lily! We must hurry, the others will start the bombardment soon and...!

Guard: Aaand the proof has just walked in on its own...

Sofia: See?! Told you! Arrest them!

Guard (pointing his spear at Robert): Drop your weapon mate, I don't want to make it bloodier than it has to be!

Robert: Sorry, but not going to happen!

They begin fighting each other, but Robert easily slays the man. After this, the other guards storm him in an attempt to overpower him. {if Erik = true}Erik draws his sword and cuts down the man holding you before he joins to help Robert in the fight.{endif}{if Erik = false}You kick the man holding you in the balls to free yourself. He falls to the ground as his crotch hurts a lot.{endif} Now that you are free you again try to catch Sofia, who begins to flee when sees you coming her way. When you were almost in an arms length behind her, a giant stone lands between you two, shot by a catapult, as the sun has begun rising and the bombardment begun. The ground shakes and the earth opens under your feet. You are both screaming as you are devoured by the earth and the rubble covers your whereabouts from those who remained untouched by the impact. You are separated from Sofia, but your biggest concern is to survive this unexpected event! {if Erik = false}Robert is still fighting the guards, killing them one by one, he saw what happened to you, but is unable to do anything at the moment.{endif}{if Erik = true}Robert and Erik are still fighting the guards, killing them one by one, they saw what happened to you, but are unable to do anything at the moment.{endif}