As Jon-Wyn makes his way down below decks, he spies a lone guard at the post before the brig. Completely unseen thanks to his vanish, the guard is easy prey. But just then, the voices of Eris and Timmons grow louder as they approach from within the brig.
"I'll be happy to tell you about the captain," Timmons says as he escorts Eris out of the brig. The guard snaps to attention, and the first mate says, "Her cell is not up to standards. Make sure it's cleaned before we get back."
As the guard moves into the brig, Timmons leads Eris up one deck to the crew quarters and fishes out a key, unlocks the door to the commander's cabin, and escorts her in. It's low-ceiling looks especially uncomfortable for Timmons, but there's enough room for a small table and a couple of chairs along with the berth. Timmons pulls out one of the chairs for Eris and fishes through a chest for his bottle of spirits.
Jon is aware that Eris seems to have Timmons well in hand, and appears to have the below decks all to himself.
"Guess I'll go first and ask the obvious question then huh?" Eris responds helpfully, wanting to avoid any awkward silences. "So, why is a ship like the Warhawk sitting out here, and why for that matter, is it here for two weeks more...or at least I'm assuming that based on how long the Captain expected me to stay in the brig."
Jon is ready to present the crewman with the gift of his final breath, but something in Eris' voice stops him. He makes himself as small as he can and settles back into the shadows of the ship to observe how the scene plays out. A moment is all it takes to realize that Eris has the situation well in hand. He continues to wait, though, even after Timmons leads her off.
You are a fool, Jon. He berates himself. You thought you would tag along on this mission and do something great and be the hero. But they are capable agents, and it turns out that you are the weak link. So what are you going to do about it? You could kill the guard. That would make you feel better, but would not aid in the mission. So how can you help? Eris is well situated, Sa'Kage might need some back up - doubtful- but it would prove very risky to get to him. He shakes his head trying to rid himslelf of that line of thinking. I came to tag along, so I should do just that.
Jon counts a few heartbeats to make sure all is as it should be before leaving his hiding spot. He follows after Timmons and Eris and finds a hiding spot once they go into his cabin. If she needs me, I'll be available.
Also, any sign of Sa'Kage?
Guess not.
"Guess I'll go first and ask the obvious question then huh?" Eris responds helpfully, wanting to avoid any awkward silences. "So, why is a ship like the Warhawk sitting out here, and why for that matter, is it here for two weeks more...or at least I'm assuming that based on how long the Captain expected me to stay in the brig."
Timmons nods his head and looks troubled. "I wonder how many of the crew caught that. We were supposed to be returning for resupply in a couple days. Whether the Captain said that to scare you off or she knows something I don't, I don't know." He looks pensive. "But she did order rationing. Claimed some rats got into the flour. Now, I'm not so sure."
That second roll should have been Perception. The rolls are the same and I forgot to type over after copy-paste.
Eris nods her head in agreement with Timmons. "Word on the street back in Korsova is that she upset the Queen somehow, and that your captain has...frustrations along with someone called Wexley." Eris gives a slightly apologetic smile. "If I had a more...upper class job there is a possibility I could update you, but I have absolutely no idea who Wexley is, or why your Captain feels so strongly against him or the Queen. Perhaps its why she is ordering rationing? Is it possible that you waiting out here is some sort of punishment?"
The big man looks devastated at Eris's words. He sits for a moment in silence then uncorks the bottle and pours her a glass. "It's Commodore Wexley. Her superior, and the one who stationed her on this side of the bay. But if you have heard rumors about Captain Narvin being against the queen, well, it simply isn't so. There's no other captain I've served under who is more faithful to her duty. To her crew, and to her queen." A strong note of pride and conviction sounds in his chest as Timmons speaks.
Then his voice lowers and he leans in conspiratorially. "And the queen's a bloody fool if she can't see that."
He watches expectantly as Eris tries the whiskey, then asks, "So what about you? Your name? Where are you from?"
"My clients tend to know me by a variety of different names, some of them, names of their own choice. In fact, I've had so many different names I have almost forgotten them all. I have a true name of course, but I keep that hidden to just myself. Its the only piece of individuality that I have and as such, I tell noone. As for where I was from, that topics a fairly easy one to answer, as I was born in the Shackles, but I have tended to move around a significant amount all my life, never really putting down roots. Its been a difficult life, but an eventful one."
Timmons looks genuinely disappointed that Eris doesn't give her name. He leans back in his chair. "Well, I'd best be getting you back to the brig. Hopefully Jacksen will have done a good job getting it cleaned for you."
He makes a move to get up.
Eris smiles pleasantly, nodding her head agreeably, and swiftly turning to open the door herself, appearing the model of cooperation herself, whereas really all she wants is an open door and space between Timmons and herself. Eris opens the door, but stops slightly in the doorway, before turning around to face Timmons with a smile on her face.
"Well, this was fun and all, but I'm extraordinarily unwilling to go back to that brig, just so I could just be locked up for two weeks. I have places to go, clients to see, that sort of thing, so I think I'll just be walking away now. Its not like I would get paid or anything during the time where I'm wasting my time in the brig now would I?I'm sorry to resist going back to that brig and all Timmons, but I thought we were friends. Friends certainly wouldn't be seeking to hurt another friends circumstances in life would they?" Eris responds in a disappointed and slightly sad tone. In reality, this is entirely misdirection but Eris is technically giving Timmons a way out here, where he doesn't have to die. Plan B would be a good deal more aggressive one, unleashing a Color Spray on the poor man, but of course , if he resisted that then Eris really lacked a lot of non lethal means of putting him down, and she prefered to avoid killing freebies if she could help it.
Timmons looks at Eris with a frustrated expression. "I'm disobeying Captain's orders, here. Fine. Stay in my cabin if you like; I'll endure the wagging tongues of the crew. Heh, though I might need you to quash a rumor or two if it reaches the missus. And I'll check with the Captain about when we'll return to port. It might not be as long as she led you to believe."
He stands up and invites her back into his cabin, looking to head back out on deck.
Jon takes this chance to cast Message to Eris, making sure to do so quietly.
"Time is running short. Shall I aid you?" He whispers to her.
"Thank you Sir, I'm very grateful of the opportunity to avoid sleeping in something that closely resembles a cage. If you could have a chat with the Captain about perhaps dropping me off earlier, I would be ever so grateful!" Eris responds happily, lying casually on the bed, giving the impression that she is fully content there.
Soon after Timmons leaves, Eris quietly responds to Jon-Wyn. "Thanks for keeping an eye on me, I had no way of knowing how strong his willpower was, and I could have easily found myself in trouble had things not gone my way. If time is short, I'm assuming that its time for us to make our escape and leave this place. I'm certainly ready to do so if our mission is complete".
Eris seems to want to keep the murder to a minimum so Jon allows the ensorcelled seaman to pass unmolested. He then goes into the room with her. "I came after you. I don't know precisely where Sa'Kage is nor whether or not he has succeeded with The Ritual. I suggest we go off to find out, though. Then make our escape."
Kage is still skulking in the shadows at his vantage point, waiting for Eris or Jon-Wyn to appear. They where both resourceful, he was sure the wait wouldn't be long.
"Of course Jon-Wyn, I agree with your assessment" Eris replies, happy to defer to her ally's good judgement as she follows him out of the room.
With time growing tighter, Jon has to remind himself not to rush. rushing would only cause a bloody battle that would end in his death. He goes to what seems like the one area of the ship he hasn't been to to find the captain's cabin.
He hopes to find Sa'Kage along the way.
Timmons leaves his cabin and moves down the hall, past the galley and back up on the deck. Kage, watching the events from the captain's cabin sees the first mate appear on the main deck. There's a brief moment of alarm as he heads straight for the sterncastle and the captain's quarters, but he is intercepted by one of the soldiers returned from searching the Manatee.
Eris and Jon-Wyn reach the deck to see Timmons in a conversation with a soldier, but otherwise there is little happening on the main deck. Most of the deck is cleared but for a few swabs and the team up in the rigging. They both can see no sign of Kage.
Kage, however, is able to spot Eris and Jon-Wyn skulking along on the main deck.
"I think we just made this mission even more difficult. Once Timmons gets to her we'll have both of them to tend with, if not the entire ship. Support me when it happens. I'll focus on our target."
Jon-Wyn and Eris arrive on deck just in time to see the main force of the Warhawk arrayed on the deck of the Manatee with a small pile of contraband discovered during their sweep of the ship. Fortunately, the attention of both crews is focused on the rather scathing dressing-down that Timmons is giving to Yarr. Kage, seeing the opportune moment, makes his presence known to the other two and signals that the ritual is finished.
Stealthily working their way over the side of the ship, all three are able to get back aboard the Manatee and sequester themselves in a small nook as it disengages and slinks away -- clearly grateful that the entire crew was not detained and only forced to dump its illicit cargo overboard.
Deciding not to risk the wrath of Captain Yarr as he nursed his hurt all the way back to Korvosa, the three stayed hidden until it was safe to abandon ship and reach the city's docks.
Once back to the streets of Korvosa, it took little effort for the Mantises to meld into the anonymous crowds and find their way back to the underground network of the assassins. The first of their five tasks complete they return to the main planning room, where they see the list of the names of people who have thus far eluded the Red Mantis, including, at the head of the list, the senechal of Korvosa itself.
Kage had been withdrawn on the journey back, harboring suspicions about the sanity of a ruler who would demand the death of a seemingly loyal captain. Perhaps somebody was taking liberties with the queen's contract to pursue a personal vendetta?
After a while he seems to snap out of his funk and tells the others, "There are four other names on the initial list, perhaps we should attend to some of those? I suspect taking down the senechal will take significant planning."
Jon runs through the mission in his mind. Looking for where he erred so that he does not make those same mistakes again.
At Sa'Kage's question, "I was thinking the priest of Milani. I'm sure the crown would appreciate her removal."
Kage nods in agreement adding, "Ah yes. The goddess of revolutions. Her follower shall make a worthy offering to holy Achaekek." A dangerous smile flickers across his face, although it doesn't quite reach his strange blood red eyes.
Here is what we know of her so far.
Thalia Boltin is a Chelish revolutionary recruiter who has operated in Korvosa for several years sending agents into Cheliax to try to overthrow Thrunish rule. Her operation had been tolerated since its focus is elsewhere, but obviously no longer.
Kage asks, "Is it known where Thalia lives and works? If needs be we could play the role of revolutionaries in order to get close enough to strike. Or if she's careless we could adopt a more direct approach, and raid her apartment in the dead of night."
The Church of the Everbloom is a mobile operation, meeting in small clandestine groups to plot and plan the liberation of the people. They are constantly on the lookout for spies and infiltrators.
Certain florists in Midland can give out the location of the next meeting, although in code based on the arrangements of the roses in their bouquets.
I'm not sure if I'm the best at this so this roll is to aid other if I'm not the best one. Otherwise take it as it is.
When the others return from their excursion, Gafar sits in the safehouse at a table, notebooks spread out before him and a cup of black coffee close at hand. He barely looks up as the others enter. "I trust your mission went well," he says. Wasting no more time with pleasantries, he begins filling them in on the information he has gathered for their next mission. "This Church of the Everbloom is a crafty bunch of insurgents. They hide themselves better than illegal congregations in Rahadoum."
Gafar takes a sip from his coffee. "The meeting location is advertised by flower arrangement. I have taken the liberty of ordering a bouquet, but I have not yet cracked their code."
"By flower arrangement?", Kage rolls his eyes before adding wryly, "What happens if there's a city wide shortage of carnations and marigolds?!" There is a moment while he composes himself and then he says, "OK, well I don't suppose there are that many florists in Midland, we could interrogate a few. Harshly if needs be. That is unless we can find somebody who knows the code. I wonder who the queen has in her dungeons, perhaps somebody who we can lean on..."
Kage will inquire with the Queen's agents if they have any members of Milani's cult locked up. You never know, the prospect of rotting in her dungeons for decades might make somebody desperate. Alternatively such a prisoner might be coerced by credible threads against friends and family.
Kage quickly learns that there are no known Milani cultists locked up. It's always been a small faith that focused its operations elsewhere, so the interest is in stamping it out now before the faith spreads.
Milani is known as the Everbloom, and her symbol is the rose, often depicted as growing from a cracked, blood-soaked street.
One of the roses in the bundle has a red-tipped stem. A close examination of that rose discovers a small but deliberate "V" and "I" inscribed on the third leaf and sixth petal, respectively. After a bit of deduction, you realize they are coordinates that can be plotted using a well-used standard map of Korvosa, 3V and 6I intersect at a chandler's shop in south Midland.
Jon looks over Gafar's notes and examines the flower arraignment. He pulls out a rose with a red tipped stem. "Milani's symbol is a rose growing out of bloodied street." He further examines the rose. "See here. Someone's inscribed letters on this petal and this one too."
Kage grins at Jon-Wyn, a look of feral anticipation on his lips, "Oh very good. Jon-Wyn knows where all the the good parties are! Lets gate crash and make some pretty patterns with their blood. Milani's lot are an anathema to any nation, no mercy, no survivors."
Gafar raises an eyebrow at Jon-Wyn and sniffs dismissively. "Yes yes, very good," he says impatiently. He quickly plots the location on a map while the others begin devising the assassination. He winces at Sa'Kage's suggestion without looking up from his work. "That is not an assassination; that is a massacre. We're not Skinsaw cultists. We are better than that." The Tith'Kali is consumed with bloodthirst. I should make note of that. But is it a symptom of his condition, or merely a personal character flaw? How I would love to get my scalpel into one of them...
Eris hesitates slightly, before remarking in a soft voice. "Kage, you understand how I feel about killing non-targets. If they are a purposeful barrier between our target, then by all means, I am happy to support you in cleansing them, but unless it could be avoided, I would prefer we let them live. Who knows, perhaps down the road one of them will become a target for us at some future point and you know how much I dislike doing...freebies".
Kage blinks and gives Gafar a sidelong look and then glances at Eris. He sighs, "A freebie. That is true.". He pauses, and sounding deflated he explains, "I was projecting what the contract ought to be. The previous target was troubling, I believe she was loyal. Milani's brood are certainly not. Still you are right the guild doesn't do freebies."
Kage definitely feels there is something remiss in the orders, capriciously overbearing in some aspects and plainly lacking in others. Ultimately though, they are orders, so he will carry them out. Or die trying.
A moment passes and then he asks, "So how do you propose we proceed?"
Gafar takes another sip of his coffee as he considers the question. "Our services have been contracted to solidify the Queen's rule. This priestess needs to be made into an example to demonstrate what happens to those who would foment rebellion." Gafar's eyes begin to glisten with a wet sheen and he can feel his pulse begin to pound as he concocts plots and stratagems, mentally calculating and simulating permutations of scenarios. "They should be infiltrated and spurred to action. Allow them to stew for a time in their false sense of security and success, imbibing the cheap drug of their religious ecstasy. At the summit of their plot, when their fervor has reached its peak, we strike from their midst, decapitating their idolatry at the source! As her blood spills on the street, they will find no roses in the cobblestones, merely mantises and the glory of Achaekek." And then we have the rest of them rounded up by the Hellknights and allow the followers of gods to destroy their own. Sheer poetry!
"I would prefer to go to the meeting and do some reconnaissance. We don't know how many there are nor their capabilities. We could pose as citizens new to the area with concerns over the governance of the country."
Sounding supremely confident, Kage nods, "Sure, reconnaissance is good. They're paranoid but from what the reports suggest they won't be able to stand up to our might for long. We can watch them and move in for the kill at our leisure."
A couple simple walk-bys reveals the chandler's to be a fairly standard affair -- two-story building with a shop front, apartments in the upper floors and a single-story rear building which likely stores the wood, paraffin, and other items necessary for the craft. Apparently the candle shop had recently acquired some exotic wax from a colony of giant bees from the Bloodsworn Vale. The thick, white candles made from the wax are faintly rose-scented and cost a silver apiece. Along with standard candles, the shop also sells smokesticks, sunrods, and tindertwigs. It also has a block of incense of meditation and one candle of truth for sale.
The proprietor is a short man of Tian ancestry with a wispy ring of white hair around his bald pate. The deep lines on his face seem to indicate he smiles often. His hunched wife scurries in and out of the back room, carrying rows of candles to the displays. An apprentice can be heard from time to time shouting questions to the owner about various aspects of the trade, to which the owner patiently answers.
Gafar peruses the candle-maker's wares - exotic materials are always fascinating. Beeswax was a very useful substance, lending itself to many applications for a clever alchemist. He engages the proprietor in conversation, feigning interest in the expensive magical products. While the craftsmanship was passable, the old man clearly lacked imagination.
While discussing the properties of the Bloodsworn Vale beeswax, Gafar requests a tour of the man's work space. As dull as he finds the man, distracting him is less boring than casing the location. Such work was best left to the others. Besides, if he could get the old man alone, he would be able to start inquiring about the coming meeting. Gafar relishes the opportunity to hunt again. As an inspector with the Pure Legion, he made his career rooting out hives of criminal religious activity. He detested having to ingratiate himself with those who would prostitute their souls for some paltry promises of comfortable slavery in the afterlife, but the satisfaction he felt as they confided their crimes to him, tying the nooses around their own necks, always made it worth it. And while Gafar would happily see this old man hang out of sheer disdain for his lack of personality, he knew the candle-maker would lead him to an even more satisfying prey. And this time, Gafar would get to execute the zealot himself instead of being forced to cede that honor to the undertaker of the High Court of the Kingdom of Man.
Many hours before the meeting was due to start, Kage set out. Taking the rooftop way as he was accustomed to. For the initiated the myriad catwalks, slippery roofs and death defying jumps were a faster highway than the cobbled streets below.
Sometime later Kage arrived at a house across the street from the chandlers. From behind a chimney stack he considers his next move. The goal was to get over to the roof of the chandlers and from there find a place to watch the meeting. A place from where he can strike when the time was right. As he mused, Kage noted Gafar entering, and smiled, tonight's meeting would prove exceptional.
Gafar is able to talk his way into the back room where several vats of wax bubble away. The tall, lanky apprentice works a rack that lowers several wicks at the same time into the cauldrons to slowly build up the tapered candles. The proprietor eagerly shows off his skills with creating unique candle designs by pouring molten wax into chilled pools of water around the single wick.
"I create beautiful flower design this way. Tulip, daffodil, rose, and lily. Do you like? Is there special someone?" The aging proprietor grins broadly, the deep furrows in his face crinkling up even more.
The south face of the chandlers had badly weathered brickwork where the elements had eroded some if the cement away. The climb would be easy, the trick was to do it unseen.
If you watched for long enough you got a sense for the ebb and flow of the crowds. Kage waited for a couple to pass by before shimming down a drainpipe. There in the shadows of a side street he waited till a street hawker pulled his cart down the street. With the man safely past, Kage nonchalantly crossed the street to the chandler's.
He darted up the side, taking full advantage of the many handholds provided by the poor brickwork.
Now on the roof of the chandlers he looked for a skylight, or for some other way of entering unseen.