Alyssa's mood can spin like a copper coin, and she turns her gaze away from the priestess to smile at the two children, hiding like naughty boys upstairs. "You know, dears, I should really be impressed: you're learning to break the law and bend the truth to suit your own needs. One day soon, you're going to wake up and realise that, really, we're not so very different."
Her voice is sweet as gingerbread, but the threat is implicit: you little fools don't have what it takes to stick to the path of righteousness. And when you fall, I. Will. Be. Waiting...
"Have a nice day, now. Gyronna's blessings be with you all."
Even here, in the sanctum of her goddess, Allamar seems intimidated by Alyssa's threats. However she recovers quickly.
"May the light of the Inheritor illuminate you and your actions." She says in return. Because she'll burn you to ash and I'll enjoy watching.
The coven leaves without further incident and find themselves outside the churcyard without any further ado. The church door stands ajar behind them and it is a beautiful sunny day. In the town square ahead there are a number of craftsman, busy constructing a platform with a hanging scaffold on it. They're making good progress - the job should be done before night-fall.
Alyssa smiles crookedly. "Oh, I rather think it's your own son's actions that will be illuminated, dearie."
She steps out of the church with a light heart. "Well, that was nice, meeting the neighbours. We should do it more often."
Once back at the jail, she's all business. "Now, we need a few weapons and that shiny helmet that we stole. Betha, let us know if your boyfriend can supply us without anyone being any the wiser. Nothing expensive, mind: a few clubs and staves will be fine. Something that a mob could use. We'll use that Bag of Holding we found to transport them... let's put them under a floorboard at Bo and Dent's house."
"Next, we need some witnesses. Jordanna, would that tasty-looking young friend of yours be willing to say she's seen the priestess' two sons hanging round Bo and Dent's place?"
"Then, we go to the notary and tell him that our suspect has confessed to keeping weapons under the floor of his house. The notary comes with us to make the search, and - shocking! - finds evidence linking the two boys to cowardly militia terrorist types. Add in a witness who puts them at the scene, and we have them."
She beams. "So what do you think, dearies?"
Jordanna grins wickedly. "A delightfully devious plot, sister. I'm sure I can 'convince' little Phoebe to play along."
"I'll also see if Ingoe can come up with a witness to the boys attempt to break into the jail," Betha says after thinking for a moment. "That's the main thing we accused them of and needs proof."
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Betha takes the magical bag and makes her way over the to docks, keeping an eye out for anyone following or observing her. Reaching her destination, she spends some time observing the comings and goings before spotting Ingoe.
She wanders close to the man, attempting to keep her presence unknown until she's within a few feet.
"Hello Lover," she says in a husky voice. "Miss me?"
"I need a couple of favors," she coos. "And in exchange, perhaps I can do something for you." Her hand brushes across his muscular chest and then descends lower, her eyes following.
"I have a bag with me that would like to be filled with a collection of peasant weapons. Nothing sharp or especially deadly. Just staves and clubs ... cudgels, that sort of thing." Her hand slips inside the man's breeches.
"The other thing I need is someone that would testify as to what he or she saw. And I would tell them what they saw. You could you provide something like that, couldn't you? Hmmm? I know you're always ready to provide a girl what she needs."
She looks down at the response her wandering hand finds. "Yes, you are." She smiles and licks her lips.
Meanwhile, Jordanna leaves a message in a spot where she knows Pheobe will find it. The pregnant changeling waits in the shadows of an alley for the little girl to arrive.
"Interested in making some more coin, little one? I need a rumor spread around town about Priestess Allamar's sons. I think you're just the girl for the job." She produces two gold coins from her cloak and holds them tantalizingly in front of the girl.
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Ingoe seems to quite enjoy being greeted in Betha's 'unique' style, pushing the changeling behind a large pile of crates and then seemingly willing to let her work her 'magic'.
"I might be able to arrange that." He growls, shoving her up against the craters and sliding his hands inside her shirt. "For the right compensation of course." The next few minutes are tied up in 'negotiations' where Ingoe drives a hard bargain and Betha applies the velvet glove rather than the iron fist.
The 'negotiations' conclude with Ingoe promising to deliver the bag, and suitable witnesses to the jailhouse by sunset before walking away with a jaunty whistle.
--------------------------
Jordanna doesn't wait long before Pheobe turns up. The budding spymistress nods sagely at Jordanna's request.
"Makes sense. Those two always doing good and getting in peoples way. Why only the other day I saw them..." She trails off and raises an eyebrow at Jordanna, holding one gold coin in each small fist.
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"...loitering around the residence of the old gatekeepers, Bo and Dent," Jordanna provides. "They had shifty looks on their faces. You're not sure what they might have been up to, but you're sure it wasn't good."
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"Terrible behaviour." Pheobe says, shaking her head in a good imitation of Jordanna. "I should warn people in town of roving do-gooders."
She nods and scampers off, performing a little magic of her own as the gold coins vanish as she runs away.
Satisfied, Jordanna returns to Alyssa to report her success.
Betha arrives back at the jail with a happy swing in her hips.
"Ingoe will provide us with weapons and a witness," she says with a smile. "Now we just need to make sure our 'Guest of Honor' stays just that until his final performance."
She glances down the hall to where the old man rests in his cell.
"What shall we do until then?" she asks.
"I can think of a few things we could do to pass the time," Jordanna purrs, tracing a finger down Betha's back.
Alyssa tuts disapprovingly. "Just remember, we ain't put on this earth to enjoy ourselves. We're here to enjoy other people's suffering. T'aint the same thing, at all."
She looks at them severely. "Petty revenge. That's what makes life worth living."
"That and spreading madness and monsters throughout the world," Jordanna adds, rubbing her bulging belly. The life inside shudders and twitches in response.
As the coven sits around and discusses their various small pleasures in life time passes and outside, rumours spread and talk thickens.
As the sun is setting there is a knock on the jailhouse door and Ingoe enters followed by three respectable townfolk, two men and a woman. He steps in to embrace Betha, one hand passing her a bag as he does so.
Then he steps back and bows, "My apologies Ladies. I came to meet your lovely sister here and found these concerned citizens waiting at the door to speak to you. I hope that inviting them was the right thing to do."
The woman steps forward, "I'd like to report suspicious activity. I say the Sword-Knight's sons hanging around the old gatehouse. They were skulking and seemed keen to avoid being seen. I know the Archbaron had the gate closed for good reason, so I came with my brothers to report this." The two men, who do look similar, nod their agreement.
"I can think of a few things we could do to pass the time," Jordanna purrs, tracing a finger down Betha's back.
"Oh, do tell," Betha responds with half-lidded eyes, enjoying the touch.
Alyssa tuts disapprovingly. "Just remember, we ain't put on this earth to enjoy ourselves. We're here to enjoy other people's suffering. T'aint the same thing, at all."
She looks at them severely. "Petty revenge. That's what makes life worth living."
Betha glares at the older woman.
"But hasn't it been said that the best revenge is a life well lived?" She seems serious for just a moment before breaking out in snorts of laughter.
"We are so thankful that concerned citizens like yourselves would be willing to come forth to see the light of truth shine on such nefarious deeds. We'll need you to repeat your observations at an arraignment. You'll be very helpful in bringing miscreants to justice."
Unfortunately by now it is too late to go and see the town notary, a dry man who is famed for his punctuality and his absolute lack of humour or imagination. Therefore it is arranged for the 'witnesses' to return in the morning so that an expedition to the Notary can be made first thing.
With that the coven settles down in the jail. The two bunks available in the back room may be hard, but they're better than the floor...
Johanna is awakened in the middle of the night by a strange scratching noise from the front door. It sounds like last night's thieves may be back!
Jordanna's eyes flutter open as she hears the scratching noises. She rolls out of bed and quietly shakes her sisters awake. "Trouble," she says.
The changeling grasps her amulet, recalling her mage armor spell and casting it again. She drinks her extract of shield as well as she prepares to confront whoever is at the door.
Round 1: Jordanna wakes the others.
Round 2: Jordanna casts Mage Armor, Others?
Round 3: Jordanna drinks shielf, Others?
Round 4: ?
Round 5: ?
At Jordanna's touch, Betha first brushes her sister's hand away, assuming her intent is to satisfy a hunger. But when she whisper's 'Trouble', the woman's eyes snap open and she let's herself bask in her senses for a moment. She hears the same noise that awakened Jordanna and smiles. "They're back," she whispers.
The nimble woman slithers to her feet and takes hold of her blade. On padding feet she moves to wait near the side of the door, hoping to take the intruders from behind. Her anticipation is evident by her grin.
Alyssa hasn't got to old age by sleeping heavily: she's awake almost before Jordanna's hand reaches out in warning. "Hmm. Hold a moment, dearies."
She reaches for her sword, testing the edge to satisfy herself it hasn't dulled. "Ready when you are, sisters."
Jordanna turns the key and pulls open the door in one smooth motion. Outside are the figures of Loran and Locar, one crouching in front of the door with a pair of lockpicks in one hand and the other turning around, hand on his sword.
Jordanna grins savagely. "Hello, boys. You should have left well enough alone." She casts a spell, sending a spray of colors washing over the twins.
A pair of curling, ram like horns sprout from the changeling's head as she claws and gores whoever is still standing.
Both clerics collapse under Jordanna's spell.
As she contemplates a job well done something new appears, a small, stone-like angel appears from nowhere, hovering protectively over the boys!
"You will not harm them!" The creature declares, firing an arrow at Jordanna!
Betha pulls back for just a moment when the divine agent appears. She refuses to be cowed, though, and rushes forward to strike with her katana. "If they didn't want to be harmed, then they shouldn't have tried to break the law!" she snarls back.
She presses her advantage and strikes again.
Jordanna recoils as the angel fires at her, but fortunately her magical defenses deflect the projectile. Snarling angrily, she slashes at the creature with her horns and claws.
Once Jordanna's spell goes off and the two of them collapse, Alyssa steps forward, her sword gleaming, clearly intent on doing something painful (and possibly permanent) to the youths.
Alyssa blinks with surprise as the angel appears. "Well, well, well. And it's not even my birthday."
She slices at it with her sword.
Gored by horns and smote by negative energy the tiny angel reels. Pain is clear on its stone face as its countenance shifts to that of a mighty eagle. It let's out a great screech - a cry of pain and sadness.
Weathering the angel's shriek without issue, Jordanna continues to tear the celestial being apart!
Although Jordanna lands blow after blow, the angel's flesh is hard as stone and the changeling barely leaves more than scratches!
Alyssa is momentarily stunned by the angel's cry and takes a few seconds to recover.
"Keep crying little one," Betha says shaking off the effect of the wail. "No one will come to help you." She then slashes at the being with her blade.
Unfortunately for the coven the tiny angel is nimble as well as resilient and Betha is unable to hit it. The tiny creature flutters backwards and then fires an arrow, point blank, at Jordanna's belly!
The arrow flies through Jordanna's protective magics, but much of its momentum is gone and it leaves little more than a scratch.
Betha laughs and moves closer the to the fluttering creature.
Alyssa steps the other way and stabs at the angel once more.
Jordanna accepts the new scar on her belly with a grunt. She steps straight forward and continues her assault.
Once again the coven's strikes are useless and the angel continues to flutter backwards, firing its bow.
Again Jordanna's protections sap the arrow of its force, although she is beginning to resemble a porcupine.
Alyssa steps once more, maintaining the flanking position with Betha.
She gives a sideways look towards Jordanna. "Sister, now we've pushed this thing away from those boys, would you do the honours and put them away?"
Jordanna doesn't seem to hear Alyssa, eyes burning with rage as she focuses on trying to kill the annoying angel!
Betha continues following the outsider, but her blade is less than effective.
Jordanna lands another blow, scratching the angel yet again as it dodges Betha and Alyssa's blows. It's eagle face appears and it lets loose another mighty screech. Lights are appearing in windows around the square - this is no longer a stealthy operation for anyone involved!
(Round 6)
Seeing that the direct approach isn't working, Alyssa moves away from the angel and back towards the unconscious youths. Her blade hovers over their throats. "Be reasonable, dearie. Either you back off, and we take them in for breaking the law, which means they'll be nice and safe in a jail cell - or I cut their throats here and now."
"It's your decision, dearie. But don't wait too long. These frail old hands might just slip very soon."
Jordanna resists the shriek but fails to harm the angel. "Knock out the twins before they wake up!" she snarls.
Betha slows her assault, slapping the side of her head trying to shake off the effects of the outsider's shriek.
The kuribu screams "No, you shall not have them!" and charges at Alyssa, its head morphing into a fearsome lion as it goes!
Alyssa reels from the blow but is not knocked back.