Daniel grinds his teeth a moment before moving to the growing pile of scavenged goods on the tables. He drops his Lho-stick among others and picks up a lighter in exchange.
"I'm not a thief; The stick and my bullet fir the lighter." He says, more of a statement than an offer. With drawing another Lho-stick from his pocket he finally lights one and enjoys it for a moment before returning to the task at hand.
"Let's move on - before we draw any more eyes to ourselves." and with that Daniel leaves through the gate.
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"Of course I'll say thank you. What sort of person needs a reminder for something so generous!" Odette exclaimed, looking actually offended that anyone in their right mind may have so little manners.
She starts her thank yous to Feliks and Volc, bowing low. "Thank you so much for being willing to assist me. I'd have never managed had I needed to do it on my own," she says. She then approaches the apparent leader of this band of Collectors, offering a hand out to shake. "I assure you I did not intend for their to be any intimidation in my statement. Merely incredulous comments between companions. I humbly thank you for the gift. If I was not in such dire need, I'd not take anything. I assure you my gratitude is undying."
With that all sorted, she packs herself up and looks to the others. "Shall we then?" she asks with a beaming smile.
Feliks nods, "Of course. Chances of success increase when we work together."
Volc offers a brief, gap-toothed smile in reply to Odette's thanks as he nods along with Feliks. Apparently he has been hit in the face more than once, if the missing teeth are any indication. "You are welcome, sister. I trust you to do the same for me, should I require the aid." He moves to follow after Daniel, giving the Collectors an appreciative nod for letting them go without further event.
You leave the large opulent gates of the courtyard. The odd feeling that infected Feliks is gone. The corpses have all been picked clean by scavengers. The road ahead of you is a stark contrast to the Imperial Sector behind you. The buildings are almost all spires that stick straight up in the air like daggers, very rusty and jagged daggers. The smog is so thick that unless you have a chrono, night and day are indistinguishable.
The people on the road are just like the buildings, jagged and worn. There is an alley way to the right with water dripping from the roof. Mutated children and playing in it and laughing. They do not seem phased by the fact that a few moments ago this area was host to a brutal gang war.
As Ciaran walks along she speaks to the rest of the group. "We need to start heading towards the upper hives so that we can properly begin our investigation."
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Odette looked at her own outfit she had been handed for a disguise and cringed. It was certainly not her style. Or her color. Ah, but their are more important things that beauty, she reminded herself and she slipped the outfit over top of her own clothes. How... frumpy... At least this one fits fairly well, she thought as she looked over herself as best she could.
But apparently the form fit was a little less than the typical look for a hiver. Not that she cared or noticed. Or would even know.
Volc shrugs into his low hiver outfit as well, following after the rest of the group. To his credit, he seems to be doing a fair bit better than Odette does despite only barely knowing what he is doing. "Do we intend to walk the whole way? Or have you something else in mind?"
"We will need to walk until we can find a lift to takes up, though I am loathe to do even that. Should the Emperor bless us we may even find passage to the spires, perhaps even one free of the influence of gangers or mutants."
Daniel reaches into his satchel and withdraws his lower hive outfit. He throws over himself and shrugs his satchel back on.
"We should make haste either way. We've already made too many friends down here."
Feliks follows the lead of the others, donning his lower hive attire, watching the way other hivers move and attempting to copy their mannerisms.
Walking out on the streets you notice that everyone has an Oath Cog, everyone. All of them are proudly worn on the chest in plain sight. So far no one has noticed your lack of one, but you believe it might be an issue before long. Way in the distance you see a very large lift rising up to another level. You guess that it might be aprox 3 miles away, depending on how many turns the road ahead has, you know there is at least one large wind to the right if you continue straight. There does not seem to be many people on jet-bikes or cyber-equines, but there are a few here and there.
The large feral-worlder peers around the area, feeling a pang of homesickness for the more archaic surroundings he is used to. Still, there is plenty to see as they trek through the streets. Leaning down lower, he murmurs a question across to Ciaran and the group as a whole. "Ought we borrow a steed from one of these citizens?"
"Well, we'd need more than one at least. Why do you think it necessary, though, out of curiosity?"
Feliks' eyes never cease their scan of the area as he speaks quietly, moving his mouth very little, "Our own feet will serve for now, I think. Borrowing that many mounts would draw unwanted attention."
"Haste, primarily. However, Feliks is likely correct. Let us be swift, but inconspicuous." Volc is perfectly content to take up a position just behind Feliks for the moment, letting the psyker go first.
Daniel gestures generally towards the lift, "We go up." He casts a quick glance around before suddenly commenting on their noticeable missing parts"Should've taken the Cogs...even if we didn't use 'em." and follows with a quick shrug of his shoulders, deciding the hive outfits should get them to the lift at least.
He takes a moment to take another drag from his Lho-Stick before continuing with his original train of thought, "The job we got is in the upper hives and so far is our only real lead, so it's where we're gonna need to start. It's true, we can't rightly just walk up to Guljian and start spittin' questions, but we can at least try and get close enough to watch and hear the rumors. Other than that we got nothin'." He finishes his Lho-Stick and stomps it on the ground as they walk. "We'll have to play it by ear once we get 'round the upper hives; it ain't much of a plan right now, but it'll come along." He finishes rather matter-of-factly.
Walking ahead, you can barely keep track of your fellow acolytes throw the crowds. Some seedy taverns and dive bars are noticeable and a few junk sellers. As you round the turn, a loud chime is heard as a very large clock tower ahead changes the hour to mid-day. The already crowded streets become more crowded as people are rushing to the timed lifts. There is a lift that goes down that is at the base of the clock tower.
Oaths bondsmen on Cyber-Equines gallop along the crowd insuring indentured workers return to the lifts to finish their oaths. A few have to get rough with some workers that had a little too much fun on their midday break and are clearly intoxicated.
"Steer clear of the Bondsmen. We don't need the trouble." Daniel says to the group as they continue on towards the lift towards the upper hives.
You make it to the lift that goes to the upper levels without incident. The lift is very large, but few are allowed access. Two Arbiters wielding shock mauls and a cyber mastiff stand guard. A quick look at those being allowed on the lift reveals that it is mostly Guild merchants and their oathbound. A few nobles and lower level imperials are also seen from time to time.
"Perhaps persuasion would be the best course of action? Who among us has a silver tongue?" Volc suggests, looking back over his shoulder at the lot of them. "Unless we wish to simply make our way there through force."
"I have never been known for my ability to convince others to do what I want. Is there any other way up?" Feliks waits patiently for the others.
"Force ain't really an option. The last thing we need are Arbites chomping at the bit to get us. " Daniel says in a hushed voice. "I suggest we move off to that alcove there and slip into our skimmer outfits. A quick tongue will go nowhere if we don't look the part." He points to a darkened corner or alleyway that seems to be less crowded or preferably empty.
Once over there he peels off his underhive gear and tosses on the skimmer outfit, securing his satchel over himself. "Now, with this gettup we just walk onto the lift. Act like you belong."
Once everyone is changed Daniel motions for the crew to follow, "Follow my lead and hopefully we can make it out of this."
Daniel moves swiftly through the crowd, marching forward and shoving people out of the way as he bellows, "MAKE WAY! MOVE IT! LET'S GO - OUTTA THE WAY!" As he approaches the lift he makes a show of ignoring the guards as he usher everyone onto the lift. "LET'S GO MEN! WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO SIT AROUND - ON THE LIFT NOW!"
Daniel whirls around to face the guard accosting him. "Do you have any idea who I am? I swear ta the Emperor himself, if you so much as even think of obstructin' us again I'll throw you on the next Tithe Ship and you'll live out the rest of your days on some forsaken, backwater, rock wishin' you had never even looked in my direction." He waits a beat before continuing, "Do I make myself clear?"
Once everyone is onboard the lift Daniel will take his place, standing at the ready like he remembers from his day as an Arbite.
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Odette has no issue following Daniel's lead and follows him to slip into the more appropriate disguise attire for their attempt at the lift. She's mildly impressed with his leadership and problem solving skills; she certainly didn't have the wits or courage for this particular plan.
She does her best to follow him with the same confidence he's clearly moving with, chin held high and nose turned up. She has to suppress a little gasp of surprise when he starts barking orders about.
Daniel Abernathy pushes his way past an Arbiter, who is shocked and surprised at his remarks and allows Daniel and his fellow acolytes on the lift, but the Arbiter stares at them as the lift ascends as to burn the image of the smart mouthed merchant that talked down to him into his mind.
The Lift ascends to the upperhive. Guild merchants are being driven in chariots pulled by Cyber-Equines and the hive is noticeably less crowded on this level. The air is still barley breathable, but the clouds are now visible, and you can almost see the Apex where the nobles reside beyond them.
"Well done Mr. Abernathy, well done indeed. We are getting closer to where we need to be, but it may be more difficult to get there. For now we'll have to find the next lift and see just how difficult that may be."
"Thank you Sister." Daniel says as he breaths a small sigh of relief. He hadn't been sure they wouldn't just be shot, but they had made it through the lift.
"I'm certain the same plan won't do again, but I agree we should at least see the security there. Also, now that we're out of the dregs we might hear word of Lans Guiljian so we'd do well to keep an ear out yeah?"
Another chime is heard from that clock tower below, and the streets before you quickly become empty. A large patrol of Oaths bondsmen can be seen rounding people up and it is heading in your direction.
There are no other lifts to be seen in the immediate vicinity. There is an alley between two large pipes that are connected to some sort of factorum to your left. To your right and a little bit ahead is an entrance to a large building with a Scale and a large I. Within the I is a squiggle symbol.
With a quick nod in Daniel's direction to make his own approval known, the guardsman takes stock of their surroundings. Volc shoots a glance at their options to the left and right before making a quick decision. He reaches out to pat Daniel on the left shoulder and murmurs a quiet, "Alleyway on the left? The bondsmen are likely taking that right toward the guild house."
"Yes. I have no wish to become entangled in whatever they are rounding people up for." Feliks leads the way toward the alley mouth, alert for any danger to them.
"Lead on then, guardsman."
The Party is able to sneak in-between the large industrial pipes as the Oaths men continue their rounds past them.
Volc is apparently too busy trying to lead the group away from the bondsmen to actually pay attention to fine details.
Daniel moves into the dark alley and crouches low, obstructing his views to the street.
Ciaran quickly scrambles out of the way of the toxic sludge.