Let's start with 5 for today. and 10 more normal arrows.
The silver ones... Hopefully I won't be needing them, but it will be good to have them just in case.
And don't you be worrying. You save the rest of them for when I come back and I will be telling Aunt Zelendra to be extra nice to you next time you visit the Delight.
She flashes a bright smile at the man, then after paying him 11 more gold hurries off to meet the others at the Juggler.
Atticus will also try to trade in his sword cane for a morning star and change his armor into masterwork parade armor and his thieves tools to masterwork thieves tools.
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Wizard 0: Mage hand, prestidigitation, acid splash. 1: Mage armour, Magic weapon, (S) Colour spray. | Subtle misdirection 6/6. Bonded item 1/1.
In the morning Twilight wakes up and after having a bath heads down to the shrine in the basement for her morning prayers. There she leaves the yellow silk bag with 60 gold coins by the altar and takes a new silk bag from a small wooden box next to the shrine. The tithe will be collected by one of the other priestesses during their daily rounds.
Twilight then heads to the private room and takes a table. When Mirela shows up a little later she smile brightly and waves her over. After a some small talk she asks "So Mirela, have you ever considered practicing your aunties' profession? Even if only for a hobby having a patron like Sabina could be both fun and rewarding. If you were interested I could show you..." Twilight trails off as she looks up and sees Devan stumbling down the stairs.
"By Calistria's barbed words!" She gets up and helps him into a chair, wrinkling her nose and cringing a bit when she gets near. "You are not a well man Devan. Let Mirela have a look at you."
Twilight listens as Mirela makes her diagnosis. "Filth fever? You need to get some bed rest. The last thing you should be doing is traipsing around the city on some random guard errands. But, if you must... Mirela, if you think you can treat the disease I can get someone to help with the symptoms."
Twilight motions to one of the staff "Could you send for Sister Joy please, I have someone in need of her services." Twilight then turns back to Devan. "It will cost a little bit, but she should be able to restore some of your vigour and get you back on your feet. We can't have you looking like this on the first day of our new position, it would look bad for everyone involved."
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"It can get worse?" The musician cringed, reminded of the old man's frantic babbling a couple of days past. A chill swept through him then...the chill of the grave? As his body started cooking like a furnace again he chuckled somewhat madly. No, not dead, his body was trying to burn itself out.
As the two priestesses fussed over him Devan grinned, thoughts whirling in his spinning head that were as unclean as the filth spreading through his body. He winked at Mirela, then started to make a comedic, lewd suggestion to the Calistrian, his vision blurring a bit through the dizziness.
That's when he saw her staring back at him judgmentally, her features disapproving. Devan's mouth opened and closed a couple of times wordlessly as he reached forward with a shaking hand, "I'm not ready to go yet, my love...I'm sorry..." He dropped his hand before getting to her face as his vision cleared and the features resolved into Twilight's.
Pretending the whole sequence hadn't happened, the bard asked, "Do they have a prayer to remove the infection, as well? Curing the symptoms is fine, but not too helpful if I'm in this same boat in a couple of days." He glanced at Mirela, "No offense of course, Mirela. I'm sure your doctoring is up to the challenge, but if there's a quick fix, I think I'll take that." It seemed his life lately had been all about quick fixes, the young man mused. He thought this time it might be prudent, though...he was in no shape to make a good first impression.
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Mirela looks over at Twilight and softly says in a conspiring way:
Typical man, gets himself sick and refuses ‘elp. Why do they always make more work for us?
Then she looks sternly at Devan and says:
If you sir had let me ‘elp last night, you might not be in this state. ‘Opefully this teaches you something...
But her voice softens as she continues:
My teacher, brother John could ‘eal the sick with a prayer, but those prayers are beyond me. I can only ‘elp with ‘erbs. Thise did cure many in the village I trained in. If you need more, Maybe Twilight knows someone in the city who is blessed enough to cure by touch. But my teacher is many days away.
Atticus will also try to trade in his sword cane for a morning star and change his armor into masterwork parade armor and his thieves tools to masterwork thieves tools.
Unfortunately, the soldiers arrive before Priestess Joy, who is not on the premises but out "minstering" to the faithful. The guard sergeant stamps about impatiently while you make them wait, and it isn't long before a willowy woman arrives dressed in the yellow robes of Calistria a fine veil covering her features.
When she removes the veil, you can see she is an older woman, past her adventuring years, but still finely attractive. Her delicate mouth turns down when she sees the state Devan is in, while her bright green eyes give him the once over. "How do you find yourself in this condition, man? Do you not know your body is a temple for celebrating the joys of the flesh? It will not do to have this infection raging inside you. If you are wiling to submit, I believe The Unquenchable Fire shall give me the ability to rid you of this blight, and to recover your lost vitality. Are you willing to make the appropriate offering and submit?"
When she says the word 'submit', her hand drops to the handle of a leather whip that is tucked into the belt of her cassock.
You'd better get your illness treated as soon as possible. It won't be a waste of money.
Devan rolled his head to look at Mirela, roguish grin in place after wincing as a cramp rolled through his stomach. "Why my lady, I only thought of your honor when I refused your help last night. What would everyone say if you came to my room in the darkest hours of the evening? Lesson learned, though...my door is open to you any time." The young man chuckled at his supposed wit before leaning back in his chair, exhausted.
The musician ignored the impatience of the guards as they waited for the healer to arrive. Since they didn't press, the handmaiden must have spoken highly of the group or given them some measure of authority, the bard reasoned. Or perhaps they were just averse to conflict. Who knew?
Devan studied the handsome woman, Joy, as she removed her veil, wondering if she could help with his malady. He wasn't a judge of such things, but if it was as bad as he felt, he was knocking on death's door. Well, approaching it, at any rate. As she asked her questions, the bard gave her his most charming smile, the effect somewhat lost due to his paleness and damp hair, "Seems to me it's been enjoying the joys of the flesh a bit too much recently. Though I'd like to get back to it, if you get my meaning." Somehow Devan thought she might.
The musician's dark eyes follow the woman's hands to the whip at her belt, a dark brow arching, as he chuckled nervously. "Ummm, yes? Just how unquenchable is the fire, actually?"
Mirela busts out laughing.
My ‘onor? Ha! Remind me to bring you to meet me family sometime.
Then she stands there smiling and shaking her head as the others deal with the guardsmen.
Sister Joy doesn't see the humor in Devan's witticism and she just nods stoically. "Yes well, you're about to find out aren't you?" Provided Devan hands over the coins (or ingots in this case), the prelate of Calistra takes him downstairs to a private room. There...well we had probably best not speak of it...Suffice it to say he comes back up stairs more of a man than when he went below. While his stamina and agility are still impaired, at least teh infection is gone and he may slowly get better.
That done, the sergeant of the guard clears his throat loudly indicating his impatience. "Are you lot finally ready to move out? Can't say I minded gettin' off my feet for a bit, but we have other duties to attend today and daylight is burning."
Devan thought about Mirela's statement, then shrugged as he nodded his head in agreement. Sounded like the kind of family it would be good to know, for multiple reasons.
As Joy promised Devan clarity on the matter, the musician sighed and followed the woman down the steps, eager to be rid of this malady no matter the price. Some time later he reemerged from the depths of the Juggler, his expression carefully neutral. "Thanks for the enlightenment, Joy."
The musician turned to the others, feeling noticeably better though still pale and wan. Fresh sweat matted his dark hair to his head, but his dark eyes had less of a hollow look about them. "Turns out it was pretty Unquenchable, but we did our best. Anyway...we ready to go?" The bard stood there uncomfortably for a moment before heading to the door.
As the guard complains the musician looked at him irritably. "Sorry you had to wait, sir. We'll get you back to fighting off the merchants and bakers soon enough, don't you worry." Devan smirked at the man, prepared to follow him to their new boss-person.
Wizard 0: Mage hand, prestidigitation, acid splash. 1: Mage armour, Magic weapon, (S) Colour spray. | Subtle misdirection 6/6. Bonded item 1/1.
When the guards arrive first Twilight greets them. "Hello gentlemen. I don't mean to unduly burden you but would you be able to wait for a short while? Our friend is suffering from an ailment and we have a specialist on the way to treat him. I assume you would rather have a hale and hearty man representing your organization? I will see to it that the staff makes your delay as comfortable as possible."
Twilgiht addresses the one of the waitresses "Would you be able to supply our guests with some light fare and maybe some watered drink for them to enjoy while we wait please? I will take care of the expense."
She then sits and flirts a bit with one of the more handsome guardsmen eventually asking "How are the efforts to restore order going?"
When Sister Joy arrives Twilight stands and curtsies before her superior "Mistress Joy, thank you for attending on such short notice"
After Joy leads Devan away Twilight sits back down and adopts a prim and proper posture. Looking down at her plate she casually says to no one in particular "Mistress Joy is very skilled at treating the feverish. At the climax of the ritual he will be granted blessed release from his affliction and then we will be ready to go." before daintily nibbling on some food.
When they return Twilight stands "I trust everything is in order?" she turns to the guards "Thank you for your patience, I believe we are now ready to depart."
Let's go. We have things to do. You should never underestimate the anger in someone's heart, Devan. It drives people over the edge in the blink of an eye..
Devan turned an incredulous look onto Nargun as they started forward. "The good sergeant here can go jump in the Jeggare if he doesn't appreciate having to wait while I get treatment for a disease that was probably gonna kill me. Not to mention that if the guards had been cleaning up the streets as they should have been that old man wouldn't have even been there to infect me."
The musician's thoughts turned to the old man and his prophecy, then, wondering if he had escaped the doom the man had pronounced upon him. In any event, as fast as the illness had worked upon Devan, it likely meant the whitebeard was dead. This strangely puts the young man in a morose mood, the bard keeping quiet the rest of the trek.
As Twilight speaks to the guards during Devan's "treatment", they growl and rumble. "The Queen has declared martial law," says the sergeant unhappily. "Most of that trouble is stirred up the bloody Hellknights anyway, damn fools. They can't be cracking heads for every minor infraction, it just stirs up the populace even more. Things are as bad in Korvosa as I've ever seen. What this city really needs is the return of Blackjack! He's been out of sight for years now though, and either he's retired, or someone's finally killed him. That old fella would put this place right in no time!"
The sergeant gets a few deriding comments from the others in the troop, who are enjoying a refreshing beverage, and the sights of the Juggler.
After Devan returns, the group sets out for the headquarters of the Korvosan Guard, Citadel Volshyenek. The trip from Northgate through Midland to the citadel is uneventful -- the streets are all but deserted on what should be a busy weekday. The scars of last night's carnage are all too evident-- a burning building, broken shopwindows, a pool of blood. In one place, a pair of bodies lie in the street covered with white sheets waiting for the ambulance cart to come pick them up.
Dressed in full armor, and well armed, a dozen Hellknights of the Order of the Nail pass you on the street. They stride purposefully in smart formation, not even seeming to notice you as they pass. But the sight is rather ominous in the disquiet city.
Eventually, you arrive at Citadel Volshyenek. The place is an impressive fortress that overlooks the Jeggare and is the main headquarters and garrison for the Guard. A pair of nervous-looking sentries armed with halberds guards the main entrance which is a fortified archway where the portcullis is lowered, barring entry. From behind the grid, the guards challenge you. When the sergeant explains the situation, the men raise the portcullis. It is obvious word has been sent and you are expected.
The detail that escorted you makes ready to depart, and a young, perhaps too young, Guardsman offers to bring you to the central keep where Field Marshall Kroft keeps office. You enter the stout structure and circles the main stairs to a second floor office. Knocking on the door, the guard opens it and motions for you to enter.
Inside, the jumbled and unkempt office, a harried and tired-looking woman rises from a mountain of papers on her desk and greets you.
She is an attractive, dark-haired woman dressed in red armor. There are a bevy of chairs around a separate table that is covered with a map of Korvosa, and she bids you to sit.
Ah yes -- you are the ones sent by Queen Ileosa. Greetings! My name is Cressida, and heroes of your caliber are exactly what Korvosa needs right now. You've been on the streets, You know better than me how bad things are out there. It's breaking my heart to see Korvosa tear itself apart like this. Every little bit of aid we can get from upstanding citizens like you helps. If you're willing, I'd very much like to retain your services as agents of the Guard. A group of irregulars if you will, for special, delicate missions and the like, where typical soldiers cannot go. You will, of course, be well compensated for these services. What say you?"
Wizard 0: Mage hand, prestidigitation, acid splash. 1: Mage armour, Magic weapon, (S) Colour spray. | Subtle misdirection 6/6. Bonded item 1/1.
On the way to the citadel, Twilight asks Devan "Do you know who the Blackjack that the Sergeant spoke of is?"
When they arrive at the citadel Twilight wonders "Heroes of our caliber? What? Nobody knows what we did at Lamm's and all we did for the queen was return her broach. What have these guards been told?"
"Thank you Field Marshal. I can only speak for myself, but it is an honour to have been asked by the queen herself to assist you in calming the city. Do you know why the King's passing has elicited such a spirited response? I don't recall any stories of this much unrest during past changes in Korvosan royalty."
The musician nodded as they walked along, his reverie broken by the half-elf. He turned his tired eyes to her, managing a smile as he responded. "Blackjack is the 'people's' man, the hero of the commoner that the base class makes up to offer a small glimmer of hope that life can be better. Supposedly he wears a mask, flipping from the rooftops and through the streets in the pursuit of righting wrongs and protecting those who can't protect themselves. Even if he existed, he'd be getting long in the tooth at this point. These people are better off throwing coppers in the wishing fountain."
Still, songs and stories about Blackjack made for a happy audience, so Devan knew quite a few. He took out his lute and played one quietly as they made their way through the empty streets.
--------------------
Looking at the exhausted woman, Devan felt a bit of sympathy. These last few days must have been hell for her. Still, desperate times created opportunities for those willing to take them. After the bard had listened to Cressida's pitch and Twilight had responded, he offered his own thoughts. "Exactly how much is well compensated? And I'm taking it you have one of these...delicate...assignments that such a group as ours can assist you with?"
I Wonder what I am doing here.. My own heart is in so much chaos.. Why should I care about the city, unless I'm directly attacked? I can't come back to my dwarven home, either.. I forfeit my name, my future, just to chase my vengeance.. And now I've had it, quicker than I expected, and I'm at a loss about what to do.
Nargun seems lost in his thoughts, then speaks, a little louder than he expected
Me, representing the law? I'm not sure I would enjoy the task. I'm more used to work alone, without any rules. But I've seen the riots, and the pillaging, and who know what I didn't saw that was even worse.If I can do some good and protect the innocents...What would be our status? Will we have orders to follow?
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Kroft sighs softly at Twilight's question. "That is a good one and has no simple answer. The King's sudden death, the rumor of regicide, the Queen's foreign birth and unpopularity, her icy coldness to the people, these are all parts of the puzzle that have brought about the anarchy we have now. My job, though, is not to puzzle out its origins, but rather to stop it, and return the city to normalcy."
To Nargun she says: "You can protect innocents and help quell rioting, but not in the usual way. Indirectly perhaps. And yes, there will be orders, but only in a vague sense. Objectives, is perhaps a better word. You will have greater autonomy to operate than uniformed soldiers, but you will also have...deniability..."
To Devan and the rest: "I do have a mission in mind for you now, matter of fact." Kroft sighs again, coming around the desk and joining you at the map table. "Korvosa's got enough troubles as it is without my own guards losign their way. Many have deserted their posts, more concerned about friends and family than the city. I can understand this, yet not all of the deserters have family -- some of them are simply using the riots as an excuse for personal gain. One such man is Verik Vancaskerkin. Worse than a lone deserter, he's convinced a small group of fellow guards that Queen Ileosa is going to ruin the city. Whether she does or doesn't isn't the point -- right now, we've got a city-wide crisis on our hands, and I need all my guards working with me to see us through. A deserter is worse than a lost resource -- it's an infection. I can't afford to pull any of my other patrols off duty to deal with Vancaskerkin, and I'd rather not expose any of them to him anyway, since I don't want Vancaskerkin to infect more guards with his talk of secession, nor do I want some overly patriotic guard killing Vancaskerkin outright, I need impartial, skilled talent. Talent like you."
Vancaskerkin and his followers have holed up in an abandoned butcher's shop in Northgate -- a place once called 'All World's Meat'." She points to a spot on the map that is really only a few blocks from the Yellow Juggler. "I need you there. Try to avoid killing any of the deserters if you can, but if you must, they brought it upon themselves when they threw in with Vancaskerkin. I'd really prefer it if you could capture Vancaskerkin alive and return him to me for interrogation, but if he makes this impossible, I'll accept his body as well. Finally, see if you can find out why Verik deserted -- if there's more to it than simple personal politics, I need to know immediately. Bring me Verik alive, and there's 750 gold in it for you. Dead, he's only worth half that."
The Field Marshall goes on to offer you lodging and meals here at the Citadel as well as a place to recover safely once missions have ended.
Atticus ponders for a moment. "So you want us to to bring him in, or do you want him to disappear?"
With great curiosity the learned man checks the sick bard. He moves over to Mirela."Do you think he is contegious."
I'm sure Princess here can ask these guys nicely, and maybe talk them into some sense. And if they want to play rough with her, they'll have to get throught me first. And I ain't a lamb going to the slaughter, ready to be silenced..
Devan responded to Atticus after Croft told them of Vancaskerkin, grin on his face. "The good Field Marshal wants him alive, presumably so she can ask him what this is all about. And it's his ideas that are contagious! If word gets around to the less zealous of the guards that a deserter not only lived but thrived, how many would be back in the barracks tomorrow versus setting up their own operation?" Devan apparently didn't understand that the Professor was referring to him.
The musician smirked as Nargun boasted of 'Princess's' capabilities with talking men down, but remained silent. He rather wanted to remain in Twilight's good graces for multiple reasons, not least of which was the vengeance aspect of the Savored Sting's portfolio. Slight met with slight. He was more interested in other aspects of her dogma, down the road.
Devan gave the Field Marshal a shallow bow before replying, "We'll do our best, ma'am. And thank you for the offer of accommodations. We'd best get to it before he has any more time to entrench." The bard then hovers by the door, ready to leave when the others are.
Pleased that is seems you have accepted, Kroft calls for an adjutant and the man gives a swift briefing, outlining what is known about Vancaskerkin's operation:
With anarchy reigning in Korvosa, and most people staying off the street, food has become scarce in the city. Few farmers will enter for fear of riots and bodily injury, so no food is coming from the outlying areas controlled by Korvosa. In any event, for those that do brave the streets, most markets are closed or damaged. Stevedores, dockworkers, and sailors have joined the mobs howling for the Queen's head, so ship transport via the Gulf of Varisia or the Jeggare River has come to a virtual standstill. The Queen's customs office has been burned and the once-proud import officials are in hiding, so even if a ship docked, it would be problematic to off-load it.
In this environment, Vancaskerkin's use of a butcher's shop cannot be accidental. All the World's Meat is located at 22 Stirge Street in the Northgate section of the Northpoint District. This district is the center of Korovsa's municipal government. Many of the cities non-noble elites and old-money families live in this area, which includes the Yellow Juggler. Recently, the wealthy of the city have been relocating to the more posh areas of the city including Citadel Hill in the Heights, leaving the area feeling vacant and a bit run-down.
The previous owner of the butcher's shop, faced with a withering market share, fell into a few nefarious schemes and was eventually jailed for tax evasion. The building sat empty for a year or more before Vancaskerkin and his crew moved in over the last few days.
The musician's eyes widened as he almost forgot a very important item to discuss with the Field Marshal. He turned to Nargun, indicating his pack, "Nargun, would you please retrieve the dagger with the distinctive blade we found earlier?" Assuming the dwarf does so, Devan presents it to Kroft with a flourish. "I present to you a solved mystery! The blade of the Key Lock Killer, taken from one Gaedran Lamm. He shan't be using it again, I assure you." The bard said it with a note of finality, even with the smile on his face.
As Nargun retrieve the dagger Mirela muses out loud.
Take them alive.... That's going to 'ard if it comes to a fight. Plus we need to transport them back 'ere. We need to think this through. Can we 'ave manacles to keep them chained while moving them through the streets or something to knock them out? I don't know, a sleep drug or nightsticks to bop them on the back of the 'ead but not kill them? Maybe blunt tipped arrows like I 'ave 'eard some practice with. I might be able to knock out someone with one of those....
Wizard 0: Mage hand, prestidigitation, acid splash. 1: Mage armour, Magic weapon, (S) Colour spray. | Subtle misdirection 6/6. Bonded item 1/1.
"Well, I do have a spell that may knock someone senseless for a few moments. I'll try to save it for Vankaskin, Vankeriskin...Vanscaskern? The deserter. It doesn't help with getting him back here but it might be useful in taking him alive in the first place.
I can also attest to Nargun's skill with his axe, if nothing else he'll have the deserter knocked out cold with the flat of his blade.
And since we are headed back towards the Yellow Juggler way, if it isn't too much trouble there is a shop I would like to duck into before we get to All World's Meat"
I don't think I need something special. The mission is quite simple.The hardest part will be to take them alive
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Wizard 0: Mage hand, prestidigitation, acid splash. 1: Mage armour, Magic weapon, (S) Colour spray. | Subtle misdirection 6/6. Bonded item 1/1.
The entrance to the shop is unusually narrow, the whole store front apparently being built into the width of an alley between two larger building. It had the appearance of a well kept store, the narrow windows on either side of the door had small flower pots with well tended plants and a cheerful sign over the door reading "Alexi's Alchemicals" painted in red and arcing over the top of the sign while painted in blue and bowing along the bottom of the sign in cramped script is "Tasha's Thaumaturlurgicals".
Opening the door sounds a small chime. The room beyond constitutes little more than a landing at the top of a flight of stairs leading downwards. At the bottom of the stairs is a short hallway leading off to either side. A sign on the wall directly ahead is a replica of the sign outside, but a red arrow points from the top to the left while a blue arrow points from the bottom to the right. Stepping into the hallway it becomes apparent that the shops are actually located in the basements of the buildings on either side of the alley above.
To the left is a very neat and orderly shop. Racks upon racks of carefully labelled bottles, jars and cabinets dominate the room containing all manner of alchemical supplies and reagents. The pungent odour of chemicals and preserving fluids mingle with those of herbs and extracts. A Chellish man with black hair and beard dressed in red clothes is carefully placing new stock on his shelves.
To the right is a cluttered shop. Items are piled or placed haphazardly on shelves, the only order seems to be that items of roughly similar types are put in the same piles. The shop is full rods and wands of a variety of materials. Shelves hold a plethora of vials, various arcane devices clutter another table while a large bookcase sags under the weight of a myriad of blank books. A Varisian woman with long red hair dressed in blue clothes idly reads a tome while a feather duster flits about the room of its own accord cleaning random spots in the shop.
Twilight heads into the shop on the right. The woman behind the counter looks up from her book with a smile. "Hello! Welcome to my shop. Is there anything I can interest you in? I have a fine selection of potions or scrolls to choose from." She gestures to a rack of variously coloured liquids and some shelves filled with rolled up scrolls behind the counter.
Twilight briefly looked around the room. "I am looking for some scroll quality vellum please, four sheets. I also need a dram of fine gallic ink, some powdered silver, a dram of urist gum and if you have it some troll blood, fresh if possible but I'll settle for dried if that's all you have. Oh, and I'll need some quill grade feathers, lets see here..."
Twilight looks through a large box with a wide variety of feathers before holding two of them up for inspection "Hmm, what do you think Atticus, crane feather for rejuvenation or cardinal for health?"
The proprietor heads to a large stack of vellum and picks some out "I can help you with everything except the troll blood and urist gum, you'll have to ask Alexi about those." She leans around the corner of the doorway and calls down to the other shop "You hear that Alexi, I'm sending customers your way!" Some unintelligible muttering can be heard from the other shop.
After paying for her items Twilight heads to the other shop. "Welcome to Alexi's alchemicals. How may I help you?"
"I was looking for some urist gum and some troll blood, fresh if possible but dry will do." she replies.
Alexi takes a quick glance at the items Twilight bought at the other shop "It would seem you are intending on scribing some healing scrolls? If you don't mind me asking, how powerful is the magic you intend to bind? Troll blood, even dried is quite expensive and really only needed for more powerful inscriptions. In the interest of fairness to a new customer, if you are going to be crafting basic healing scrolls may I suggest troll styptic instead? You will find it to be less expensive and I assure you that it will serve your purposes just as well."
"Thank you for your advice, I'll try out your suggestion." Twilight replies. While he is preparing Twilight's order Alexi asks "Is there anything else I can get you? I have a fine collection of alchemical items that I'm certain individuals such as yourselves would be able to put to good use."
Once she collects her items Twilight prepares to leave.
After Kroft responded to the group about the dagger, Devan shrugged at Twilight's request. "Sounds as good a plan as any...we'll probably want to scope it out beforehand, at any rate. Maybe Mirela and I can get a looksy while you guys finish your shopping." Out of the group, they were probably the most indescript, he supposed.
Assuming everyone is cool with this, Devan strolled down the street with the Erastilan, looking for the closed shop the deserters had holed up in. Why they would stay in the City was a mystery to the musician...he wasn't a military man, but he knew what the usual penalty for desertion was.
As they walked, the bard grinned at the woman pacing next to him. "We have got to act natural, so maybe you should hold my hand. You know, a young couple just trying to make it through the streets in the chaos following the King's murder." Devan laughed, feeling much better now that the foul rot inside of him had been expunged. He was still tired, sure, but that would pass with rest and time. As they neared the location, he kept his dark eyes peeled for signs of activity.
Mirela raises her eyebrow at Devan and gives him an amused smile.
A young couple. Just strolling down the street when curfew 'as been declared.
She looks around at the mostly empty street.
It seems we would draw less attention if we 'urried by like all the rest of these good folk.
The musician's eyes widened as he almost forgot a very important item to discuss with the Field Marshal. He turned to Nargun, indicating his pack, "Nargun, would you please retrieve the dagger with the distinctive blade we found earlier?" Assuming the dwarf does so, Devan presents it to Kroft with a flourish. "I present to you a solved mystery! The blade of the Key Lock Killer, taken from one Gaedran Lamm. He shan't be using it again, I assure you." The bard said it with a note of finality, even with the smile on his face.
"Hmmm..."says Field Marshall Kroft with a raised eyebrow. "And just how did you come upon such a thing? And by the way, where is Lamm? Our scouts haven't seen in a few days. He's not the kind to lay low during a crisis." She takes up the strange dagger, and looks it over. "Seems authentic enough, but I never suspected Lamm is psychotic enough to be a serial murderer. Scummy and moral bankrupt, sure, but to cold-blooded murder people for no reason, doesn't seem his style. He is more canny than that. What's this?" she asks pointing to the inscription. "'For an inspiration of a father...' that's curious." She offers you back the dagger. "You may take it if you like. There hasn't been a Key Dagger killing in several years so it's not really something we are working on."
As Nargun retrieve the dagger Mirela muses out loud.
Take them alive.... That's going to 'ard if it comes to a fight. Plus we need to transport them back 'ere. We need to think this through. Can we 'ave manacles to keep them chained while moving them through the streets or something to knock them out? I don't know, a sleep drug or nightsticks to bop them on the back of the 'ead but not kill them? Maybe blunt tipped arrows like I 'ave 'eard some practice with. I might be able to knock out someone with one of those....
"Take him alive if you can. If manacles will aid you, then we can provide a set." she snaps at the adjutant who returns shortly with a set of chains with wristcuffs sized for a man's arms.
While Atticus and Twilight pored over the wares in the Alexi's, the more mundane among the group decided to take a stroll and scout the outside of All the World's Meat to pass the time.
Turning the corner, Devan and Mirela are able to spy the place with little difficulty. A sign bearing the image of a fat, smiling cow hangs above the entrance to the shop. A large but grimy display window allows passers-by to view the choice cuts of the shop. Today, there a few enough cuts available, and those that remain are buzzing with flies. The western part of the building, which is set back off the road a bit, seems to be surrounded by a wooden palisade fence and unroofed. There is a small second floor area above the shop itself.
A sad-looking fellow, with a peg-leg and a crutch hobbles out of the shop carrying a small parcel wrapped in butcher's paper. "May the gods bless ye, gentlemen." you hear him say back inside the store. "Hadn't got a bite to eat without your kindnesses." The man makes a simple salute, obviously once a soldier, and limps off the way you came, carrying his package carefully.
A rough-looking man with bushy eyebrows that form into one just above his large flat nose, stands guard outside the doorway of the shop. The man wears chainmail under his street clothes, and carries a longsword at this belt. He watches all that pass the shop with interest, and his eyes fall on the adventurous pair, sizing them up. The weapons and gear they carry keep his attention, but as you stroll past and pose no threat, he seems to go back to scanning for anyone else.
The scouts return to the alchemy and magic shop just as the others are finishing up inside.
Nargun is quite attentive when they pass near the meat shop, trying to spot the ways in and out, and how many people seems to work inside.
Devan looked a bit deflated after the Field Marshal's less than enthusiastic response. The musician took the weapon back from Kroft with considerably less grace than when he offered it to her, handing it to Nargun to stow away again. In response to the woman's question, the bard wracks his brain before responding. "Lamm? Oh, he's done moved to a location right on the Jeggare, I think. Wanted to be closer to the local wildlife, he did."
The bard grinned at the Erastilan's response, shrugging his thin shoulders. "If you would rob me of such an honor, m'lady, there is nought I can do but accept it and move on. Woe is me, who doth have my clever advances spurned!" He snickered, looking back at Nargun behind them. The dwarf was keeping a sharper lookout for their surroundings than the musician was, certainly, so he felt a bit of guilt at that. Still, the dangers in the streets had seemed to pass, so there was that.
As they approached All The World's Meat, Devan's expression grew amused and curious. So the deserters had holed up in an abandoned meat market to turn it into a...meat market? What a strange ploy to carry out. The young man made sure to pay the guard outside the shop no mind...it wouldn't do to have the man possibly remember his face later on should they try a more social approach. Based on his companions' style of doing things, he thought that probably wasn't a huge worry.
As the trio runs into Atticus and Twilight as they are leaving the magic shop, the musician chuckles. "Turns out our renegade guards have decided to take up the life of a butcher. A strange career change, don't you think?" He lets the thought sink in for a moment, then continues once he makes sure they are in relative privacy.
"So should we just try and sneak in later, go in and try to buy some meat, just wait til they're closing up and start busting heads?"
I must admit I'm surprised having this idea, but I will share it with you, and you'll tell me if it's simple and brilliant or just stupid. We should try to pass as customers, and tell them we want to buy food and meat for a small band of children, young orphans left to themselves amidst the riots. It wouldn't be too far from the truth...
There may be more going on ‘ere. That man was a soldier. It could be the butcher is providing for veterans of the guard if ‘e is a good man, or it could be a cover to distribute something across the city if ‘e is more sly. Nobody would ever question someone bringing ‘ome food.
A couple posing as customers may work to get more information but I think the guard will question people with obvious weapons and armor beyound the clubs and daggers everyone is carrying these days.
Wizard 0: Mage hand, prestidigitation, acid splash. 1: Mage armour, Magic weapon, (S) Colour spray. | Subtle misdirection 6/6. Bonded item 1/1.
"Well, if you give me a few minutes, I can change into my common clothes. I wonder if Kester and Kara are doing anything? They'd make great accomplices. Otherwise, I suppose I could help someone else look less imposing if they wanted to accompany me. I agree with Mirela though, the fact that the man seemed to be a retired soldier might hint at a complication.
I wonder if the whole deal is that the deserter left to help veterans through these troubled times? Maybe that is why Kroft is concerned about letting other guardsmen know what is going on, she is afraid the deserter would be seen as a hero to the common folk? I mean, honestly if helping out veterans that have been abandoned by the guard is what he is doing I might be inclined to accidentally let him escape to continue his good work.
But, this is all wild speculation at this point. I'm up for a disguise just to get a look inside before we make a decision."
Devan smiled in satisfaction as his companions started to hammer out a plan to get a closer look at the goings on inside the meat market, his thoughts turned toward the task at hand. As the two women discuss veterans and the complications that might arise, Devan shook his head. "If it was as simple as supplying food to retired soldiers or even to the general populace Kroft would be wise enough to step in and take over the operation, giving her clever deserter a graceful way to avoid the noose and giving the Queen a small victory with the commoners. Or at least I hope she'd be wise enough."
The musician grinned at Nargun, who had started the discourse. "A great idea, Nargun! Though perhaps buying meat for a family is more believable. And of course while our 'couple' is inside shopping, monopolizing the guard's time, the rest of us can check out the rear entrance and see how accessible the place is."
To Twilight's mention of involving Kester and Kara the young man shook his head. "I would vote against such a plan. If these men are deserters, they know the penalty for that crime. If they smell a rat there's no telling what they might do. Atticus or I should probably go with you, just for a second set of eyes." Devan shrugged, as he was ok with being in either group.
Wizard 0: Mage hand, prestidigitation, acid splash. 1: Mage armour, Magic weapon, (S) Colour spray. | Subtle misdirection 6/6. Bonded item 1/1.
"Ok then, I'll just be a bit while I go change into something more mundane. I wish I had kept my enchantment spell, I could have tried to charm the guard. If anyone would like to join me for a disguise, lets go"
Twilight heads back to the Juggler and gets the peasant outfit she wore to Lamm's place. She removes her makeup and musses up her hair a bit before adding a little artistic grime to her appearance. She had done this kind of thing dozens of times before, but now that she had taken up her arcane studies again she remember a couple of little illusions she could use to supplement the mundane disguise.
Unfortunately, in her excitement to tweak the disguise with magic she may have over complicated it a little bit.
Atticus listens to the musing of the others.
Being strictly booksmart, he knows where he should listen to the street smart of the others.
"It sounds like a very good plan."
As Atticus didn't volunteer for the job of accompanying Twilight, the musician was more than happy to fill in. "Let's see..hmmm, yes. How to go about this..." Devan took off his rapier and the darts he wore on his belt, handing them to Nargun. "Keep these safe for me?"
The bard checked himself out in a mirror, fine-tuning his part until his hair seemed reasonable. He looked like total hell, still, but that probably lent an air of credibility these days. As Twilight finished up, the musician spoke with the others, "So we'll go in, and you three will swing around back, then? I'm curious to know if they have guards at the other entrances, or maybe they boarded them all up..."
When the half-elf joins them Devan grinned, "It looks like you might have went overboard on the mussed hair, m'lady. Unless we just came from a secret tryst we might need to calm that a bit." The bard's eyes twinkled with mirth, but he pressed on. "Since you mention enchantment, I have an ability to turn someone a bit more friendly. Trouble is, if it don't work they'll probably be downright pissed. Want to chance it on the fellow outside?"
We should try to see if there is another entrance. No need to plan a second team if they can't enter quickly and safely.
Wizard 0: Mage hand, prestidigitation, acid splash. 1: Mage armour, Magic weapon, (S) Colour spray. | Subtle misdirection 6/6. Bonded item 1/1.
"Its not that bad" Twilight responds while touching up her hair at the same time.
"Anyway, why don't we see if we can get in without magic. If it doesn't work we can use it as plan B. Remember, hungry commoners looking for a meal, not star crossed lovers out for a stroll. Why don't you take the lead on this one. We'll meet up with the rest of you after you have finished scouting out the back."
Twilight gave Devan a quick smile before taking in a deep breath, holding it for a moment and then slowly exhaling. She seemed to shrink a little as she slumped her shoulders, the smile drained from her face replaced by a tired and haggared look.
The musician responded to Nargun as they finalized their plans, dark eyes looking off in the distance in the direction of All The World's Meat. "I was thinking the second team could just scope the outside, not enter, though what mischief you three get up to is up to you. I know our Professor here has developed a knack for key-making..."
Devan grinned as the half-elf fussed at her hair, a slender dark brow arching though he did remain respectfully silent. He shrugged at her desired preference, thinking that between the two of them they were fairly persuasive without magic assisting. He nodded his understanding of their roles, thinking it wouldn't be too hard to look beaten down in his present state.
As she smiled at him his focus was lost, the bard's dusky features breaking out into a warm smile. When she hunched over, getting ready to play her part, his brain processed the words she had said a bit belatedly. "Hmmm? Oh yes! I'll be happy to start things off." Devan didn't have to work too hard to get in character. A soulless wretch with little going right was his last few weeks, barring the most recent past. Still, he'd have to make sure his swagger was a bit more subdued than usual.
To the others he gave a parting grin. "Good luck!" Then he started towards the meat market with Twilight, walking slightly in front of her and to the right, his head tilted down to look at his feet as he walked.
Doing their level best to appear as poor peasants, Twilight and Devan make for All the World's Meat in order to try to scope out the inside and possible get a drop on the inhabitants.
Meanwhile the others will scour the exterior building looking for any other possible points of entry.
What could possibly go wrong?