** spoiler omitted **Rev looks at Sclavo first, assessing the other man briefly. "She knows a man's fate from the moment he is born, yet sometimes men still surprise her. You cannot bribe that woman. The dagger is for yourself. A physical reminder. It is for the inevitability." Yes, Rev just referred to Pharasma as - that woman.-"I have no doubt by the time I am in the Boneyard I my fate will already be final." He smiles at the cleric, "But you suggested tribute, not a bribe," the smile lighting up his brown eyes, "I just wanted to see if I should make the tribute more dedicated."
A pause, then a question, "That woman?"
Rev grins. "Only if you believe."
After Sclavo's pause, Rev wonders how much honesty was a good thing. "Just because in the end, she and I both know that she wins, that doesn't mean I have to hand her the victory. But she knew that about me before she choose me. "
To Gravlax, he grins mischeveously "Oh, there are outward markings, but I'm not convinced everyone would appreciate me taking my shirt off just to show you."
To Cassian, his tone mildmannered, like he is used to unbelievers, Just because it sounds pretentious to you, that does not make it untrue."
The girl leans over, taking the clay bottle pouring some of the clear liquid into a small cup before handing it back to the flame-haired gnome. "I think it is." Sniffing at the cold liquid curiously.
"You're all doomed," Cassian says mildly.
To Cassian, his tone mildmannered, like he is used to unbelievers, Just because it sounds pretentious to you, that does not make it untrue."
"Doesn't make it true, either," Cassian says, yawning.
The girl leans over, taking the clay bottle pouring some of the clear liquid into a small cup before handing it back to the flame-haired gnome. "I think it is." Sniffing at the cold liquid curiously."You're all doomed," Cassian says mildly.
Tarvi downs a bit of the liquid defiantly, her eyes going wide at the burn, trying hard to not choke.
A while after Gravalax arrives, Janiven comes in, dropping off a few blocks of cheese. She smiles at the poeple she passes, genuinely happy to see everyone. A small shadow as she notices something that dismays her, but she nods to Arael, who stands.
"First off, thank you all for saving my hide from the hellknights." The tall half-elf, his bruises. "Although I'm sure that you all are quite happy that I am well." A small smile showing that he knows some really do not care. "But I wanted to let you all know that during the time I was held captive, none of your names, nor this location, nothing that could put you at risk was revealed."
"Which seems the least I could do, having been arrested." He inclines his head to the group, "I do promise that I will do everything to insure that you do not need to repeat the exercise."
Janiven shakes her head at the honest but formal thank you from the half-elf. "There are a few things that you all may be interested in, to help Westcrown, but I think that all of us should keep a low profile for a while." She smiles, the look slightly predatory, "They are not pleased with the humiliation of losing a 'true rebel'."
"Once it calms down a bit..." She shakes her head, "But I want you all to stay safe. Be normal. Don't stick out. All common sense, really."
"You know how to find me when you have another job." Cassian stands. "Good luck, everyone." He squeezes Tarvi's shoulder and leaves.
"That makes sense," Sclavo says, "Do you still have a name or did you give it up to serve Pharasma?"
Rev's voice becomes very hard to hear, lest someone in the bar overhears and thinks the wrong thing.
"Believe it or not, it's also my given first name. My mother wanted a herald. Pharasma had other plans."
Larko's face is still, but there is a deep humor in his eyes. "I think the associating we are doing here is far more inimical to my health than associating with one who tends the hurt and ill.""And I am pleased to be able to associate with you in both places."
Rev grins, a little darkly, but not with any sort of menace. "Tiefling." He indicates himself. "Not entirely a good person to have around when you want to avoid authorities, questions, and look innocent." Yet for Rev's words, he seems pleased that Larko is persistent in his desire to help those that actually needed it.
"You know how to find me when you have another job." Cassian stands. "Good luck, everyone." He squeezes Tarvi's shoulder and leaves.
After Cassian has gone, Rev pipes up, with what he's been thinking for a while now, "I like him. I can understand his motivations..." A pause. "Mostly."
The girl leans over, taking the clay bottle pouring some of the clear liquid into a small cup before handing it back to the flame-haired gnome. "I think it is." Sniffing at the cold liquid curiously."You're all doomed," Cassian says mildly.
Rev grins. He seems to agree.
To Cassian, his tone mildmannered, like he is used to unbelievers, Just because it sounds pretentious to you, that does not make it untrue.""Doesn't make it true, either," Cassian says, yawning.
Rev shrugs. "Either way, ...find out eventually." He knows the truth, it doesn't mean he has to push it on other people.
"You know how to find me when you have another job." Cassian stands. "Good luck, everyone." He squeezes Tarvi's shoulder and leaves.
Tarvi smiles up at Cassian when he squeezes her shoulder. She hands him the apple she had picked up, "For Rygel."
After Cassian has gone, Rev pipes up, with what he's been thinking for a while now, "I like him. I can understand his motivations..." A pause. "Mostly."
Once Cassian leaves, for anyone who would notice, Tarvi doesn't drink anymore of the gin she poured. She looks over at Rev, considering his words.
Rev is content to let Sclavo ponder. He finishes his drink. Looks at the remaining members of their little conspiracy. "Well, sunset is nigh." Sighs. "This city has terrible nightlife."
"Tomorrow, then," he says to Sclavo. "The future," he says to Rev. Gravlax stands, and leaves.
"You know how to find me when you have another job." Cassian stands. "Good luck, everyone." He squeezes Tarvi's shoulder and leaves.After Cassian has gone, Rev pipes up, with what he's been thinking for a while now, "I like him. I can understand his motivations..." A pause. "Mostly."
Azhar nods, "Yes, though he worries me too." he pauses, looking over at Rev, "Pausibly even a little more than you do." Azhar smiles at his brother.
Rev shrugs. "Either way, ...find out eventually." He knows the truth, it doesn't mean he has to push it on other people.
"Yep." Cassian literally could not care less.
After Cassian has gone, Rev pipes up, with what he's been thinking for a while now, "I like him. I can understand his motivations..." A pause. "Mostly."
"And I don't," adds Gravlax. "But I don't need to harp on that." Gravlax nods to Janiven. "Low profile -- that I can do."
Gravlax nods and relaxes. He seems to understand something better.
"At the end of the day, if you can't own your mistakes, what is yours to keep?"
Gravlax waits a moment extra before closing the door after Mathalen leaves. For what reason ... he's not precisely certain.
Then he goes to bed, and The Raven stays off the roofs and alleys of Westcrown this night.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Cassian gamble , Rygel aid
Gravalax scribe
Rev doctoring
Amaya ; Arael (no roll, lay low); Ermolos ; Fiosa ; Gorvio (none, punishment for the horses); Jask ; Larko ; Mathalen , ; Rizzardo , 7 sp; Sclavo ; Tarvi ; Vitti ; Yakopulio
Edit: forgot Melilot weapons
Edit: forgot Janiven
It's been, if not a peaceful week, then one lets everyone return to their normal life. Even with Arael's caution to lay low, avoid the attention of the dottari and, more importantly, the hellknight, no doubt some still steal about in the night. Some tend to the needs of those they know. Some look into dark deeds. But overall you have time. Until, as happens, you are remembered for your skills, your abilities.
Brothers Grim and Light,
There is a task that may interest you in the Altar of Despair. If you are interested, please come to the place of humanity tomorrow.
The Bastards of Erebus are rumored to be a group consisting of all tieflings with some kind of tie to the Erebus.
The gemstone cutter left Westcrown following the break-in, moneyless, with the hope that his cousin's family would take him in so that he could rebuild his life.
The moneylender, unable to cover his outstanding liens, was arrested and his whereabouts are unknown.
If you decide to come, when you show up at the safe house both Janiven and Arael are already there. Arael sitting calmly on a pew bench in sunlight, Janiven perched on a low wall in shadow.
Azhar nods, "Yes, though he worries me too." he pauses, looking over at Rev, "Pausibly even a little more than you do." Azhar smiles at his brother."You know how to find me when you have another job." Cassian stands. "Good luck, everyone." He squeezes Tarvi's shoulder and leaves.After Cassian has gone, Rev pipes up, with what he's been thinking for a while now, "I like him. I can understand his motivations..." A pause. "Mostly."
Rev returns the smile. "Since when do I worry you?"
Rev grins, a little darkly, but not with any sort of menace. "Tiefling." He indicates himself. "Not entirely a good person to have around when you want to avoid authorities, questions, and look innocent." Yet for Rev's words, he seems pleased that Larko is persistent in his desire to help those that actually needed it.
Larko's face is still, but there is a deep humor in his eyes. "I think the associating we are doing here is far more inimical to my health than associating with one who tends the hurt and ill.""And I am pleased to be able to associate with you in both places."
Rev will arrange to meet with Larko so that he can accompany him on his unpaid rounds. Of course he also continues his paid work.
Cassian nods and gets his stuff.
religion 1
religion 2
planes 1
planes 2
"And I don't," adds Gravlax. "But I don't need to harp on that." Gravlax nods to Janiven. "Low profile -- that I can do."
Janiven raises an eyebrow, "Can your friend?"
Apparently Tarvi didn't stay at the celebration long after Cassian left because she shows up at his room not long after he gets home. With a smile,
"Where is my bedroll?"
Tarvi smiles and falls in step alongside.Only Janiven is at the safehouse when the pair arrives. She smiles, "Reconnaissance for the rest. Up for it?"
When Gravalax gets home, there is a thin, wiry woman sitting on the floor next to his door leaning against the wall. She rises as he approaches, the movement fluid, "The old lady downstairs likes you, she didn't want to let me in."
Janiven raises an eyebrow, "Can your friend?"
Gravlax shakes his head. "Possibly if both his legs were broken. Or maybe he would just crawl everywhere and declaim." Gravlax sighs. "I will have a talk with him, but I do not think it will help."
Gravlax works. Mindful of Janiven's warning, he will keep his eyes and ears open for anything that seems like Cassian's work. Passive information gathering is always the first step.
The Raven goes out at least twice in the intervening week, but with no specific goal in mind. Simply looking for trouble.
"I can appreciate that," Gravlax says. "A man's room is a dangerous place for a lady unaccompanied."
"A shame," Gravlax says. "My friend and I have such disparate skill sets. I will be there in person. Perhaps Cassian has been tragically maimed. I would not wish to miss that."
Gravlax arrives, armed. He stands with his back to a wall. He has an easy smile about him, as if anticipating good news.
Mathalen rolls her eyes dramatically. "I think she was more worried I would lead you down paths of danger and ruin," she looks down at her clothes with a grin, "That or I just wasn't of the right type."
"So," looking over Gravalax's neat and tidy uniform, "do you have any clothes that can get dirty?"
Sclavo shakes his head slightly, "Is there some reason that he thinks you might try to hurt his little sister?"
Cassian nods at the bed. "You take the bed. I can't sleep on the damned thing anyway."
Cassian is still gloomy. No smile for Janiven. No joke, insult, quip, or come on. He merely nods.
A pause, "Id ask Gravlax, but I'm not entirely sure he is as willing to overlook legality."
"I can get these dirty," Gravlax says, opening the door to his room. "Is there anything else that I might need? Weapons? Money? A bag full of rotting fruit and a good throwing arm?"
Sclavo shakes his head slightly, "Is there some reason that he thinks you might try to hurt his little sister?"
"There is no accurate reason," Gravlax says. "Paranoia? Is it what he would do in my place? She smiles a lot. Her eyes are a startling shade of blue."
Gravlax glances over at Sclavo. "I do not mind him being irritated at me. Homicidal is a different story. I am not afraid of him, but the raven-haired woman would prefer that we didn't waste our energy killing each other."
Tarvi smiles at him, knowing what he is doing... and knowing arguing won't make a difference in where he sleeps. So instead she just hugs him. "Thank you."
Later that night, something - sound, feeling, presence - pulls Cassian from sleep. There isn't anything wrong, just a feeling that there are eyes watching.
There is touch of worry in Janiven's eyes for the gloom about Cassian, but she just asks, "The note you showed me from Shanwen's body? About the Bastards of Erebus?"
"Bad ones." Shaking her head. "There is an old church in Cader which may be their lair. I wanted to scout out the area so that, if people think they are up to it, we can plan out how to neutralize them."
And sure enough, the next time that Rev heads for his rounds in the northern part of the city, it is Janiven that is waiting for him instead of Larko.
There is a pause, then the door opens. "Glad to see you. Tea?" The cast iron kettle on the small fire in the hearth just starting to boil.
"Not money." She smiles, "At least not more than you are willing to lose if'n we get jumped. Speaking off," She lifts her bag, "Can I leave this here? The lady I was shleping for today was amused by me... And actually gave me a tip." She sounds somewhat amazed by that.
"And I'm not taking you to a rehearsal, so no rotting fruit or disagreeable donkey." Which are, indeed, quite common for public rehearsals of plays... in case the audience gets bored.
She thinks for a moment, "Weapon can be a good idea, but if you have one, that sometimes attracts people who want to figure out if you can actual use it... especially dressed all proper like you."
And once Gravalax seems ready, she leads him, at a fast pace, north.
Sclavo smiles, "They are a pretty blue... But from what I've heard she really doesn't seem to like romantic entanglements. Something about overbearing parents."
A pause, "And if you think her eyes are startling, you should try to see Amaya's." His voice ever so slightly reverent. "They are..." A deep breath, "I've yet to find the right word."
Then, sounding annoyed, "She really doesn't like it when people notice though."
Sleepily, Cassian says, "Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough." He quickly drifts off to sleep.
Cassian nods again.
Gravlax is happy to let Mathalen stow her bag. He takes only a small amount of money, and the remnants of that bag of nuts .
"Moving fast and light, then," Gravlax says, and follows Mathalen out into Westcrown.
Gravlax chuckles. "Overbearing parents?"
He nods a bit when Sclavo talks about Amaya. "Does she dislike it more when certain people notice than others?"
Eromolos comes over at lunch, handing you a small cloth wrapped package. "I begged some lunch for us from the cook at Fiosa's." He smiles, a large puppy-dog grin, "Need to thank Janiven for suggesting the excuse so that I would have a reason to bother you." He pulls out a flaky meat pie, happy. "Janiven asked me to let you know that there is a job that might interest you. Details tomorrow at the safehouse." And then the large man sets into his meal.
Melilot nods. Then eats as well.
If you decide to come, when you show up at the safe house both Janiven and Arael are already there. Arael sitting calmly on a pew bench in sunlight, Janiven perched on a low wall in shadow.
Melilot arrives. She seems to be carrying a few more armaments this time around.
"Used to. For example," her finger tracing the petal of a deeply red bloom, "I remember this having a vibrant red color." She looks over at Melilot, then back at the bloom, "Now I can still make the shape of it, but that is because of the pulses of fire that move through it." Her fingers move, tracing barely something in the flower that she sees.
sounds like quite a sight
Tarvi, looking far more like her normal cheerful self, leaves in the mornings, comes back in the afternoons. In addition to nuts and fruits which she tries to tease Rygel into eating (which get given to Cassian), she brings food for Cassian as well.
After a few nights, however, it is Tarvi that wakes her brother with a aborted scream, as if she has grown used to having to suppress night terrors. Suddenly, the feeling of being watched returns.
"There is an old beggar in Cader who claimed to see increase of tieflings near the abandoned Erastil church." She pauses to see if Cassian knows of the location, if not, she sketches in the general area.
"It used to be one of the better areas, with a few business starting around it." She shakes her head, "They said the church gave the area a good feeling, even abandoned."
"Be careful, don't be seen." Her tone distracted, because she knows he knows all that. She picks up her own bow, "If we can get a general feel for how many of them there are and how well secured they have the building it should help everyone decide what they want to do tomorrow. I'll be seeing if there is any chance of coming in through the fields, I doubt it. But I don't know if they have any guards in the buildings to the north."
rough idea
Buildings | Buildings | Buildings
Archery range | church | Buildings
fields | fields | fields
He shrugs, "It's her parents that seem to bother her." Shakes his head, "Her brother... she didn't mention her brother at all, but she seems far more comfortable in his presence than she does in the jewelry store."
"Of course, every time a single noble goes into the store, it seems her parents are trying to auction her off."
"Amaya... don't know. Most of the time it's like when Azhar saw them at the theater, she just shuts down."
She knows where she is going and moves easily through the few areas with people. However, once the two of you get further north, where the building are falling apart and many are overgrown with vines, she seems calmer.
"Here, this one." She says at one of the dilapidated buildings. She walks in, taking care with the rotten floorboards, but not paying attention to the dust or heavy cobwebs. Behind, still hidden from the road by high brick walls, is a garden. Overgrown and tangled, but beautiful. She sits near the backdoor with a smile. "This one is my favorite."
Inside, the plump halfling woman who serves as cook, smiles as she sees Melilot. "Fi, you really should bring this one over more often... she must never eat, frail as she is." The kitchen a warm place, smelling of spices and herbs.
Cassian climbs into bed, wrapping Tarvi up in his arms. He strokes her hair softly until she falls back to sleep.
Stealth:
Perception:
When Cassian gets as close as he judges he can, he sends Rygel ahead.
Rygel
Stealth:
Perception:
As Cassian heads into the northern part of Rego Cader, the buildings are more dilapidated, very empty this morning since most of the people who squat in this part of the city do head into the more prosperous areas of the city to beg or work. The vast majority of buildings are Cassian approaches the old abandoned church were ransacked ages ago, but every now and then there is a sign of habitation - sturdy locked doors, strong shutters on windows - but nothing that seems connected to be the more nefarious deeds of the tiefling gang.
Cassian moves through the city without a problem. Then again, he thinks that even Azhar or the clumsy Ermolos could get within 50 feet of the church without drawing attention. However, once Cassian gets that close, he needs to slow down and stick to the shadows of the building when he notices the dark silhouette of a person in the bell tower of the church, easily keeping an eye on the open fields and wider streets.
Hiding in the shadows of a two-story building with boarded up windows, Cassian waits, watching. Sending Rygel ahead, the agile monkey is able to get much closer, near an dry, broken fountain that is in the courtyard before the church. The monkey does not pause near any of the building close to the church, the primate's instinctive fear of predators sensed inside transmitting to his human pal.
One thing become quickly apparent... there are a lot of tielfings that move comfortably in the old church, over a dozen, more than could comfortably habitat the church, suggesting they may have a expanded lair underground.
..........█████....
..........█EEE█....
..█████...█EEE█....
..█CCc|...█EEE█....
..█CCc█...█-███....
..█CCC▌............
..█████............
...................
████...............
█DD█..........█████
█DD█..........█FFF█
█DD|..........█FFF█
████..........|FFF█
..............█████
...................
........~~~........
........~~~........
........~~~........
...................
...................
...................
......██▄█▄█▄█▄██..
......█bbbbbbbbb▌..
......▐bbbbbbbbb█..
......█bbbbbbbbb|..
......▐bbbbbbbbb█..
......█bbbbbbbbBB█.
......██▀█▀█▀██BB█.
..............████.
The big building is the old church, one story with a three story bell tower (complete with watch guard). The other buildings pictured are the ones that Rygel was nervous about. The ~ marked the dry fountain. The other approaches to the church are far more open and would be hard to get to the lair without being seen.
Her eyes are open when he climbs into the bed, not glowing precisely, but somehow lit with shadows. There is a sound outside the window, like something climbing on wall scurries away. The shadow fades as Cassian strokes her hair, somehow sinking into him. Eyes closing, "They want me to go with them, Cass."
Cassian will in fact want to scout the outbuildings a little more.
"Doesn't matter what they want. Matters what you want," he whispers.
"Jewelry store?" Gravlax says slowly. "Hmmm...."
Gravlax has little knowledge of the natural world, but he appreciates beauty, be it refined or rough and accidental.
He is quiet and enjoys the overgrown garden. And enjoys watching Mathalen enjoy the garden.
Rygel makes his way back to Cassian when the tiny monkey realizes his friend is going into one of the places of peril. Like most of the buildings in the area, it is two stories, creeping to the side of the building that faces the chapel Cassian sees a sign above the door, looking like it was painted in the past year.
The sign depicts a shirt and a spool of thread. While the windows on the first floor have been boarded over, there are unfaded curtains in the upstairs windows.
;
Near the front door, locked, as Cassian pauses, he hears two voices upstairs, an argument about cards.
There is a pause, then quietly, "You aren't going to make me regret telling you about the store by getting yourself into trouble, are you?"
She watches the garden for a while, which is a beautiful place, although, even here, there are signs of the darker side of the city of twilight. Not obvious at first, Gravalax does see a few small animal skeletons twisted into roots of some of the plants.
Finally, Mathalen shakes herself out of the focus of watching the flowers from a safe distance, she tosses him an orange. "Sorry, I know it isn't as entertaining as a play, but you asked what I do when I don't have to work..."
Aid: ;
Inside Cassian hears an... odd sound. Almost like the scratch of nails on wood. But the building is eerily quiet other than the soft clicking scratches.
As Cassian reaches for the door, the monkey wraps his tail around Cassian's upper arm, eyes wide with worry.
The next building is a typical example of classic Westcrown architecture. The windows and door are boarded up tight, but a small sign hanging above the door depicts a sturdy shoe and a long needle and thread, indicating this once was a cobbler's place of business.
Aid: ;
The interior of this building is quiet, but it reeks of rotting meat and decay. The door is locked.
"It is not my intention. I was just thinking about some news I had run across regarding one of the gangs in the area. And ... Bastards of Erebus. Hmm."
Gravlax catches the orange. "It's not as loud. Doesn't mean it isn't as entertaining."
Gravlax peels the orange. "Split it? Or do you have one for yourself?"
The door of the final outbuilding is finely made and carved from a rich red-brown wood. In bias relief there is a full-sized man holdin a piece of wood in one hand and carving tool in the other. The detail of a small horse forming from the wood and sitted at the man's feet is a young child staring up with joy at the partially formed horse.
Aid: ;
This building is quiet. Very quiet. Intentionally quiet.
His voice worried, and completely distracted from the subject of Cassian's little sister, "Gangs? Has anyone been hurt?"
She holds up a lemon, "Share?"
"Did you grow up here in Westcrown?"