Nari keeps a close eye on the xaosmen, especially the one with the claws. She makes sure never to lose line of sight.
The clawed one is muttering to the other toughs. He keeps looking back at Karrin
Nari nudges Justin and nods towards the clawed xaosmen.
Swift gives a small shrug at Merle's enquiry. "Not really but anything would be better than this right?""I suppose." Merle seems to ponder for a minute on something to.
Feline
** spoiler omitted **
Isaac blows smoke out of his nostrils, his hand-rolled cigarette still couched in the corner of his mouth.
"Not sure what you lovely ladies are discussing, but I've got a deck of cards upstairs, I reckon. We could get to know each other a bit with a game of Watch Me or Castles. Not too exciting, but it'll pass the time. Seems like the A Team's getting to have all the fun and excitement."
"... or, we could head on back into the Hive and see what we can dig up on this Toranna bint. A priestess of Cyric is bound to have more hobbies than just snapping at us for questioning her bureaucratic skills."
Having silently observed the exchange, Drazek walks along the wall about 40 ft above the alley getting into a position directly above the Xaosmen.
He readies an action to blast the first one to make an agressive move.
"No, nothing from our end, and we got here fast. Whatever it is moves like lightning or folds into the shadows . . ." Karrin says, "we even got eyes in the sky," Karrin says glancing up, "but we saw nothing, we heard nothing either, except that barnie's screams . . . you got anything we can use Mordrigaarz, know anyone we can talk to?"
"No, nothing from our end, and we got here fast. Whatever it is moves like lightning or folds into the shadows . . ." Karrin says, "we even got eyes in the sky," Karrin says glancing up, "but we saw nothing, we heard nothing either, except that barnie's screams . . . you got anything we can use Mordrigaarz, know anyone we can talk to?"
Mordrigaarz frowns
"I'm it blood. We don't hold with hierarchies in the Xaos faction. I gots as many men as I can hold together, an' these berks are like herding cats. Alls I know is someone's doing for the Hivers, an' that gets me heated."
He looks at Karrin.
"Why do yeh care what happens to some Hiver barmies?"
Isaac unceremoniously stands up and stretches.
"All right, they're still out working, I'm still working. Maybe somebody around here knows the chant about some part of this. I'll be back soon."
Diplomacy (Gather Info) 1d20+1=5
Diplomacy (Gather Information)1d20+1=16
Justin steps aside with a tight-lipped smile and lets the Xaos leader pass without interference. He then watches mr. Rusty-claws without blinking.
When the quiet elvin girl elbows him, he simply nods.
"Now, Now." Justin says calmly, pulling out a pipe. (And resisting the urge to lean casually against Karrin's pillar-like leg), "Just because we're not friends doesn't mean we have to be enemies."
He packs his pipe, and is just lighting it with a jet of flame from his finger when the leader returns. He also shakes his head in a negative to the Xaosman's questions.
"No. DIdn't see anything. But we did hear him shout something about 'Shadows'. Does that mean anything to you? My first guess would be the Dustmen and their, friends. But they usually seem content to let people arrive in their own good time."
Justin puffs thoughtfully on his pipe, shrugging in a 'it was a thought' way.
"Why do yeh care what happens to some Hiver barmies?"
"Officially, we don't. Unless we're being paid." Justin replies, nodding towards Karrin. "But I've a got a real problem with anyone who hurts those that can't defend themselves. And if you've found several dead 'barmies' in a week, I'd say that qualifies."
He looks at Mr. Rusty-Claws. "Bullies make me cranky." He mutters. Not loud enough to be a direct challenge,...
As soon as Karrin starts conversing with the Gang Members, Bethany shifts her attention to their conversation, trying to follow what she can. Once the Leader starts speaking normally she begins to understand what's going on and makes sure to keep her nocked bow trained on the restless Gangers.
Mordrigaarz frowns
"I'm it blood. We don't hold with hierarchies in the Xaos faction. I gots as many men as I can hold together, an' these berks are like herding cats. Alls I know is someone's doing for the Hivers, an' that gets me heated."
He looks at Karrin.
"Why do yeh care what happens to some Hiver barmies?"
Karrin nods at Justin's comments.
"Just because we're mercenaries doesn't mean we can't care about other things besides money. Nobody fits into a neat little package Mordrigaarz. I mean we're not boxes are we?"
"I should ask though, why do you care? If I believed in stereotypes I'd say gangers don't care about anything besides themselves."
Isaac unceremoniously stands up and stretches.
"All right, they're still out working, I'm still working. Maybe somebody around here knows the chant about some part of this. I'll be back soon."
Diplomacy (Gather Info) 1d20+1=5
Diplomacy (Gather Information)1d20+1=16
He looks at Mr. Rusty-Claws. "Bullies make me cranky." He mutters. Not loud enough to be a direct challenge,...
The clawed man stares him down then turns back to his mates. Mordrigaarz shrugs
"Alls we know is people in our turf keep turning up in the dead book alla sudden. No one knows nothing, an' if they did they ain't lanning us the darks. The Dustmen ain't got the guts to start pre-killing barmies. They know we'd rip their pretty tomb down around their bony skulls."
"Just because we're mercenaries doesn't mean we can't care about other things besides money. Nobody fits into a neat little package Mordrigaarz. I mean we're not boxes are we?"
"I should ask though, why do you care? If I believed in stereotypes I'd say gangers don't care about anything besides themselves."
Mordrigaarz frowns
"We aint no cony-catching bully boys, berk, don't forget that. This here is our kip, an' we takes care of our own. Lot better than the Hardheads do, anyway. We'll take care of this in our way."
Mordrigaarz looks about.
"Now I've been pretty tolerant, 'cuz I knows you are a hende load of bloods, but if you stick around too much more my lads are gonna start wondering if I'm going soft or not. I appreciate the point out on the body, but you gots to go."
Justin Looks at Karrin, and gives a slight nod. Enough to let her know that he's done all he can.
The mage takes a final puff of his pipe and puts it out. Nodding pleasantly to the leader, he steps back to let Karrin take the lead. Though he has a pleasant enough smirk on his face, he still doesn't stop watching the other group.
Isaac unceremoniously stands up and stretches.
"All right, they're still out working, I'm still working. Maybe somebody around here knows the chant about some part of this. I'll be back soon."
Diplomacy (Gather Info) 1d20+1=5
Diplomacy (Gather Information)1d20+1=16
Nari follows Karrin, but keeps a wary eye on the xaosmen. She's not willing to let them get the jump on her or her teammates. Not even the scary winged lady. At least the mage wasn't so scary after all. She still wasn't sure about Drazek. He liked people to be scared of him, but she did that too so she wasn't sure.
Bethany waits until the others have walked away, keeping her bow trained on the Xaosmen the whole time. Once they are a safe distance away, she'll put the bow and arrow back in the quiver and take wing, gliding after the rest of the party.
Issac ponders the situation and suddenly remembers a little hole-in-the wall tavern that sat on the borders where Gear Run becomes the Alley of Dangerous Angles. The bar, called Caritas, was a good place to see a sprinkling of fiends, undead, tinker gnomes, arcane clockwork mages, Godsmen, Bleakers, Xaosmen, Dustmen and Sinkers.
Chant on the street was that the barkeep Lorne was a half-fey demon of some sort. He was known as an oracle, and his bar was a hangout for the musically inclined of many different factions and races. Lorne was supposedly bard of no mean talent himself. The joint was a place to see good local musical talent.
Pacing the floor of the Cauldron, the half-elf's boyish grin returns. Just the place and likely a fine place to get reacquainted with, to boot.
"Well, my lovely friends, let us do as Swift has suggested and cease squandering our Divine Potential here moping. There's a bar by the Alley of Dangerous Angles known as Caritas; a melting pot for factioners and fiends, gnomes, mages and some of the most avant-garde and challenging musicians in the city. We can likely find a very fine new lead there and have a fine time doing it. 'Tis a pity that the Lady Bethany couldn't join us; I bet she would better appreciate whatever curious arrangements are on display at the tavern this anti-peak. If you're interested, I know the way. Assuming a bunch of dabus haven't changed the route since I was last there."
Issac ponders the situation and suddenly remembers a little hole-in-the wall tavern that sat on the borders where Gear Run becomes the Alley of Dangerous Angles. The bar, called Caritas, was a good place to see a sprinkling of fiends, undead, tinker gnomes, arcane clockwork mages, Godsmen, Bleakers, Xaosmen, Dustmen and Sinkers.
Chant on the street was that the barkeep Lorne was a half-fey demon of some sort. He was known as an oracle, and his bar was a hangout for the musically inclined of many different factions and races. Lorne was supposedly bard of no mean talent himself. The joint was a place to see good local musical talent.
Once he's sure the Xaosmen aren't trying anything, he joins the others.
Mordrigaarz frowns"We aint no cony-catching bully boys, berk, don't forget that. This here is our kip, an' we takes care of our own. Lot better than the Hardheads do, anyway. We'll take care of this in our way."
Mordrigaarz looks about.
"Now I've been pretty tolerant, 'cuz I knows you are a hende load of bloods, but if you stick around too much more my lads are gonna start wondering if I'm going soft or not. I appreciate the point out on the body, but you gots to go."
"We're moving then," Karrin nods, "we're not here to challenge you or stir up trouble. If you you're serious about taking our help dealing with problem we'll need to find some way of sharing info . . ."
Karrin waits for Mordrigaarz to reply then she turns back to her squad:
"Right you heard the man," Karrin calls to her team, "we ain't welcome here, we're moving out! Back ta base!"
"Well, heaven forfend that I should stay someplace I am not welcome." Justin says softly in an upper-crust accent. He tips two fingers to his forehead and nods in a respectful, if brief, salute to the Xaos leader.
Lowerin his arm, he pauses briefly to point his two fingers at mr. rusty fingers, and winks. He backs away slowly, then at a safe distance turns and follows Karrin down the street.
'Still no sign of the local constabulary. There's a big surprise. I wonder if they even show their faces here after dark.'
Mordrigaarz murmurs to Karrin (assuming she shrinks) or to Justin (if she don't)
"Yeh got any info or wanna talk on this I hang at Quake's Place in the Hive District."
As the group moves off, the Xaosmen walk the other way. The masked clawed dude looks back and makes an obscene gesture.
...If you're interested, I know the way. Assuming a bunch of dabus haven't changed the route since I was last there."
The group heads out to the Lower Ward. The Antipeak is in full swing, and Copperman Way is packed. It seems to be Drow night tonight. Issac gives a leather-clad female drow a quick once over, but looks away as a spider crawls out of her waist-length white hair.
Heading into the Lady's Ward, the roads begin to throng with the many carraiges of the rich and connected. Harmonium patrols stroll the street, but aside from a glance or two they leave the party alone.
The massive mansions slide by and the equally massive temple complexes rear up as they transition into the Temple District. Antipeak is a time for darker gods. A festival procession of skull-masked worshippers and large puppets of skeletal creatures cavorts down the road. A few of the paraders look a little too real for the party's tastes.
The Lower Ward greets them with a smoggy embrace as they leave the last few shanty temples behind and enter Swordhold. The district is lively, the many adventurers, mercenaries and common seelswords busy squandering their loot on ale and women. Jinkskirts throng the streets, calling saucily at Issac as he travels.
Swordhold turns to the Foundry District. As they walk along a familiar voice calls out to Issac:
"Here Hergik! It's our mercenary buddy! Why are yeh still hanging around here? Missing the fumes already?"
Springheel Jak and Hergik stand before them, already hoisting tankards of ale in cheap clay mugs.
The party resumes its travel to the Zaddfum Bridge. The Cage is fully in Antipeak, and the party hurries to traverse the Ditch and skirt the Hellgate District to Ragpicker's Square.
Ragpicker's Square is alive with the cries of the garment sellers, paper sellers, and book dealers. The group see an awful lot of Dustmen out and about now that the darkness has claimed Sigil.
Taking a travel through the sulphuric Foundry District, the group enters Swordhold. The press of people is thick, many of them armed and armored, most of them drunk
'Still no sign of the local constabulary. There's a big surprise. I wonder if they even show their faces here after dark.'
"A strange thing, boys: the further I get from the Foundry, the more I cough my lungs out. I thought I would take a look around, see if I just misplaced one of them. I can see you're both still working on your Dionysus impersonations. Clothed this time, of course."
Isaac gestures with appropriate pomp to Hergik and Springheel Jak and introduces them to whomever has accompanied him.
"These aspiring Powers disguised in the form of wine spiders are Hurgik and Springheel Jak. Trig bloods, both of them, even when they're deep in the cups."
Introductions aside, Isaac gets down to business.
"Well, old sons, we're headed to Caritas, in the Alley of Dangerous Angles, to pick up some chant on a portal researcher named Eliath and a cantankerous Dustman named Toranna. You're free to tag along, take a look at the mercenary lifestyle if you like."
The two Godsmen grin
"A fine idea! Lorne has an excellent reserve of Ysgardian Fensir Troll Amber Boch! I haven't been there since that Dretch tried to play the lute and got in a brawl with that drunk bariaur priest, remember?"
Bethany follows the party, trying hard to avoid hitting a building or another flying being in the confines of the City.
Mordrigaarz murmurs to Karrin (assuming she shrinks) or to Justin (if she don't)
"Yeh got any info or wanna talk on this I hang at Quake's Place in the Hive District."
Justin nods, slightly, to the Zaos leader again, then follows the others down the street.
As the group moves off, the Xaosmen walk the other way. The masked clawed dude looks back and makes an obscene gesture.
Justin turns back to Karrin and her silent companion. "I think he likes me!" He smirks. Obviously he's having fun. He's grinning like the mouse that belled the cat.
;P
Nari is trying to keep an eye out for everything, but there are so many, many things to be afraid of here that it sometimes gets distracting.
Perception
Perception
;P
Karrin, Nari, and Bethany are distracted by the crowds around them, but Justin sees the top of Issac's head heading across the road the other way back into the Foundry District. The Godsman scout is about three blocks away through a heavy crowd of early revelers, second shift factory workers, and Godsmen going about their faction's business.
Justin sees the top of Issac's head heading across the road the other way back into the Foundry District.
At a signal from Justin, Bethany looks where he's indicating and spots Isaac in the crowd haeding away from them. She quickly swoops over and lands in front of him with a cocky grin on her face, bringing him up short.
Perception
Swift sits in deep thought for a long moment at Merle's question, thinking of possible responses before finally speaking up.
Feline;
..but whilst listening in to him he heard about his wanting to acquire the codex thing.. I worry that he plans to do something vile to my friend. She's just a child, and one that knows how to treat cats, she deserves better::
She quickly swoops over and lands in front of him with a cocky grin on her face, bringing him up short.
Just as Hergik and Springhill Jak call out to Issac the proud winged form of Bethany swoops down in front of him
"Holy Ascencion!" His two faction mates exclaim in unison
Merle nods a few times whilst listening to Swifts explanation.
Feline
Swift looks slightly ashamed of herself and looks away.
Feline;
Merle frowns a little as she hears Swifts plan
Feline
Startled, Isaac takes a reflexive step back, a hand on his sword. But after seeing who it is, he makes a deep bow and turns to his fellow Godsmen.
"Lady Bethany, may I introduce you to Hergik Thinshanks and Springheel Jak of the Believers of the Source. Gentlemen, this is Lady Bethany, presently of the SIlver Rose mercenary company."
Introductions aside, Isaac addressed Lady Bethany.
"If you've the time to give a man a heart attack, I take it you and the others have concluded your own investigation in the Hive? Swift, Merle and Eir are back at the Rose. I've checked in with Renkar already; since I got sick of waiting I thought I would head out and chase down some leads at a pub I know."
Isaac snaps his fingers, as if he's just had a thought.
"In fact, I reckon you would like to come along. It's a meeting place for a lot of the factions in the area (which is why I'm heading there, of course) but Caritas is also known for its unique musical atmosphere."
Bethany c o c k s her head and smiles. "Finally somewhere of musical class in this cesspool of a city. The others should be along momentarily, "she waves in the direction of the rest of the party, "then we can be on our way."
She looks down her nose at Hergik & Jak and gives them a non-committal wave, as if they were below her, but politely.
"Hello Isaac," Karrin says when she joins Bethany, "are you guys just getting back as well?"
Assuming Isaac explains the situation Karrin frowns:
"Um, we might have to make some decisions soon," Karrin says, "we found some stuff and stumbled into something else. We better report to Renkar first. It might not be in our best interest doing more exploring and questioning people until we figure out what we already know and figure out what questions to ask from there . . . unless this place is only open this time of night or something . . . in which case you'd probably better go, but I got to report to Renkar and get something to eat. I haven't had a meal in almost four hours and I'm getting hungry!"
Seph mews from Karrins shoulder and a rumbling noise from his stomach seems to indicate that he is hungry as well.
"If they serve food at this Musical Bar then I will still accompany you there Isaac. Unless of course we want to put the visit on hold until after we talk to Renkar about our discoveries."
Bethany looks back and forth from Karrin to Isaac.