Drewan circles back and ends up on the roof of the stables, across from the inn's front door, longbow ready and arrow nocked.
Kit gives a flirtatious smile at the man's words. Dether? I like it. She switches her drink into her left hand and reaches out with her right hand for a shake. I am Kit and I would love to see what we could do about your lil problem.
She hops off the bar. Maybe we should head over to that corner table and speak in confidence. She walks ahead of the man making sure to walk enticingly as possible. She sits at the table leaving him the corner seat so he can feel safer. She spins her chair around backwards and sits down with her chin resting on her forearms which are crossed and leaned on the back of the chair. Once they are both seated, she casts message. Using message: What details can you give me?
She turns to Gair and holds up her empty glass while she awaits Dether's response. Can we get two more sir?!
"Alright what time do you need this distraction? While I have to say the money is tempting, I would be more interested in information or contacts. For example can you get messages in and out of the mage's tower. If not maybe there is other information you could offer as trade."
Dether follows Kit over to the table while Gair watches looking flabbergasted. Several times he opens his mouth as if to say something, but then closes it. Sweat trickles down the side of his face though the temperature is a little cool. The two bouncers continue to give menacing looks but also look relieved. One, his arm still a bit red though the color is fading back to normal, looks pale.
"Two more?" Gair blusters out. "Uh sure Kit. It's on me though."
Drewan can see both Kit and Dether sitting near the large front window that has been newly replaced after it was broken earlier in the day, the rain beginning to soak into his clothing and fur.
Dether sits with his back to the open room, apparently unconcerned about the bouncers behind him. "I believe the men who claimed the support of the tower are part of the organized crime here in Coran. My goal is simple, I mean to cut off the head, and they will lead me to it. Do you know anything of the underground slave trade?"
"The tower can be tricky. Depends on the message and who you want to receive it. For other information it really depends, I can probably find out something if I know what to ask around for. The more specific the easier it will be to get."
"As for the distraction, I'm still making some arrangements. But within a few days time at most. You know where the temple, or gardens, of Shelyn are near the library? I'll have a man there each morning at 7:00. Give him a friendly wave, if he has the details he'll wave back and have a note for you. If he ignores you the details aren't available yet. If three days pass in this manner assume the deal is off."
Jake thinks for a while sizing the woman up before speaking again. Eventually he decides its worth the risk "Somewhere in the tower is a girl of 15 called Maria, she was ment to be apprenticed there 5 years ago, but something has happened and she is in danger. If you can find where she is and what is happening to her I'll do this task for you. I'll send someone to gardens at the temple each day at 7:00 to meet your man." Jake offers his hand to shake.
At Gair's offer: Thanks!
Her eyebrows raise when the man mentions organized crime. What are you getting into girl? She looks down and stirs the ice in her glass with the claw on her index finger before looking up and speaking as calmly as possible. I know a little bit about it. My associates know much more than I. Where do you wish for us to start?
Digger cleans up and wanders into the bar again. He looks scared when he looks in. "Are you serving? Um."
"An apprentice to the tower? I'll see what I can find out and leave the information with my man to pass along." She extends her hand in turn to shake on it.
Dether gives a half smile that has no warmth in it. "I'm looking for leads of any kind, but organized is the same anywhere, they won't let others in on their turf, so all trails ultimately lead to the eventually. But you have an advantage I lack, being a local and knowing the city. If not the slave trade, then the drug trade, or the street crews."
I hate trusting a stranger. But the rebellion is stuffing around while Maria runs out of time. Who know maybe being beholden to this woman might lead somewhere interesting.
Are you looking for information about the organized group in general or specifically the ones who were here today? Kit checks out the newcomer with curiosity.
Give me more specifics if you can so I can narrow my search. Earlier, it sounded like you were looking for a woman... I will also need to know how to contact you when I need you.
At Digger's entrance Dether looks up, but he otherwise ignores the new comer. Gair stammers a moment, looking at Digger, then at Dether as though to determine whether the man will object, then back at Digger. "Uh... yes. Yes we are. What will you have?"
Dether continues his conversation with Kit, seeming unconcerned whether Digger might be listening in. Arrogance? Confidence? The man is hard to read. "More in general. Do you, or Gair" he looks back at the barkeeper, "happen to know what the merchant's wanted with them? What was their claim to justify open fighting in the city? What did they do with the captive - perhaps that one could lead me straight to the head of the beast? I do not know if these criminals are led by a man or a woman, but I believe whoever they are to be drow, which probably means a woman."
"You can leave me a message at The Barren Mermaid. You know where that is? South end of the docks."
You'd be surprised to actually find him there. You suspect he named a location that he isn't actually staying at, but will use it to relay messages only.
"The deal is made then." The woman pulls her cloak more tightly around her and heads down the alleyway to disappear into the night and the rain.
Dev winds his way through alleys to lose any pursuers before walking to the Silver Spirits to wait for the others.
Drewan continues to watch the entrance to the inn, and plans to follow Dether once he emerges.
Jake watches the woman go. It'll take too long to get Puck to follow her, oh well, next time He uses the remaining invisibility get some distance and uses some alleyways to check for people following him. Then summons Puck, adjusts his hat to change is look before proceeding to the Silver spirits.
He arrives well after Dev looking like an city guard who has just come off a shift. Puck stays outside checking for strange happenings.
I do not currently have knowledge of the battle here today, but I will find out what I can and contact you at The Barren Mermaid.
"The ...the battle here today?? With the Mage Tower guys??"
"And if I need to get a message to you in turn?" asks Dether. His eyes shift to the side just momentarily at Digger's outburst, but otherwise Dether gives no indication of recognizing his presence.
The tavern near the southern gate is small, dirty, and smells of alcohol and unwashed bodies. The tobacco smoke is thick in the air and every patron at this hour has a dagger or other small weapon on their person.
Staying in the common room would be cheap, but also not likely to lead to quiet rest anytime soon. A room on the second floor can be rented for a reasonable price. A set of stairs on the outside of the building the only access to a hallway with small rooms on either side. The back rooms being the preferred rooms as they are above the kitchen and private rooms in the tavern below.
Jake will have a look around, looking for town officals that work for Bela or Garing. Once he has found some he'll pass by Dev and whisper "I'm Jake, I'll be back soon" and then find somewhere he can overhear the officals.
You should leave a message with my good friend Gair. She stands and courtesies the man. You will be hearing from me soon.
Kit walks over to the bar and sits on one of the stools. One more Gair before I hit the road. For posterity's sake. She motions to Digger and taps the stool next to her. How about a drink handsome?
Dether gives a malicious grin towards Gair, "I'm sure he will do fine for delivering your messages." Dether downs the remainder of his drink then strides out into the rain. Heading west as Drewan watches him from the rooftops of the stables. He continues down the main road and Drewan crosses from rooftop to rooftop to see where he is going.
Gair gives a glare at the mans back, "What are you doing Kit? That one is trouble for sure. I ought to have the city guard waiting for when he comes to pick up your message."
Jake easily picks out a minor bureaucrat talking with an exhausted looking off duty watch sergeant. Both are clearly inebriated. "I'm telling you shergeant, there wash demosh out at the old tower. Shaw the report meshelf."
"He need to be dealt with?"
Staring at Gair, Kit responds matter-of-factly. I was trying to save a friend. Kit looks down at the bar. You were in serious danger and I stepped in. She looks back up and into the bartender's eyes with compassion. It was either speak to him or attack him. Which do you think was the wiser option? She doesn't wait for a response.
Turning to Digger. He is obviously very powerful. I am hoping Gair here will give us some information about Dether and anything else he knows about the group he was inquiring about. Dether will expect a message soon assuring him that I have started to gather information on his behalf.
Kit's demeanor is much more serious than it was earlier when she was attempting to play the dangerous man. She downs the drink and awaits a response to her questions about Dether.
"This ...what does this have to do with our cause? You're new here ...why isn't this just your problem?"
And you are the persuasive one of the group? Kit is taken aback by the man's words. I do not remember asking for your help. I stepped in to help Gair and now I have to tie up the loose ends. If you would like to help, that would be great. If not...so be it. I thought your group fought for those who can't defend themselves. Gair was that someone moments ago.
She shrugs her shoulders at Digger. Didnt you offer to deal with Dether just moments ago? Kit slides her glass to Gair for another drink and says under her breath. Goodness...I will never understand men.
Dether continues moving west till he gets close to the western gate. When he gets within a hundred yards he moves to the shadows of the buildings on the north side of the large open square near the gate. The noise of the fountain in the center of the square is drowned out by the rain. You nearly lose Dether as he slips into the side streets, but manage to catch another glimpse of him moving towards the northern gate house.
He stops still 100 or so feet from the gate house and and leans against the wall of a nearby building, watching the guards for a time. Only two stand outside, taking what cover they can from the rain huddled close to the side of the building. The warm glow of a fire inside peers out through the windows of the gate house, and the movement of people inside occasionally casts shadows when they move about.
For five minutes he watches, then moves northwest until he is near the wall itself. He again spends several minutes watching the guard house from this new angle.
He repeats this behavior once more then moves back around the square and takes up a watch from the south side, though you can't imagine he is seeing much from this side due to the distance across the square.
Finally he turns south and heads into the dregs, weaving through the twisting streets until he comes to a cluster of small homes, one of which has a large 60' oak tree growing right next to it. The roof of the small home is torn open, splintered wood and boards coming out at odd angles.
The cobblestones beneath the oak are torn and broken. Dether squeezes past the tree into the broken home. You wait 30 minutes but he does not re-emerge.
Gair refills Kit's glass and says softly, "Thank you."
He looks between Kit and Digger, no indication that he recognizes Digger, though if Kit knows him that seems good enough for him. "With the way the days gone I just as well close up now." Gair walks to the front doors and locks them, before turning back to Kit.
"Dether came in just after the rain started, soon as he sat down Selice asked him what he wanted to drink. He grabbed her by the wrist and said he wanted to know what had happened here today."
"That's when Han jumped in. Drunk as usual, but he's always had a soft spot for Selice, tried to pull Dether off. Well Dether calm as anything pops him in the nose, probably broke it, then knocks him to the floor and casually reaches back to put a hand on that sword of his."
"So then that fool Zack mentions you and your friends sitting in the private dining room, says maybe you could help him out."
"Blast it all though, first a fight in my tavern, busting up the place, then the city guard all over for two hours asking everyone questions. Now this Dether coming in and chasing off all the evening customers."
He holds out his hands in front of him, palms up, "What am I supposed to do? Close up shop and leave the city?"
He stops to get himself a drink. "That group that was in here today though, spoke some kind of language I've never heard before to each other. Very guttural sounding. And that half-orc that killed two men was a priest of some kind. I didn't get a good look at his holy symbol though. If not for that cloud of noxious fumes the merchants mercenaries laid down out front though I fear there would have been dead in the streets, besides the elf that is. They got real nasty looking when the fight started."
At that point, Drewan heads off to the Silver Spirits to find the others.
And you are the persuasive one of the group? Kit is taken aback by the man's words. I do not remember asking for your help. I stepped in to help Gair and now I have to tie up the loose ends. If you would like to help, that would be great. If not...so be it. I thought your group fought for those who can't defend themselves. Gair was that someone moments ago.
She shrugs her shoulders at Digger. Didnt you offer to deal with Dether just moments ago? Kit slides her glass to Gair for another drink and says under her breath. Goodness...I will never understand men.
"I am the persuasive one, and I'm showing you respect by not manipulating you. This 'Dether,' I would have manipulated. My ploy would have been to lead him on a wild goose chase. We are the revolution, Kitten. That is bigger than any other cause. If I speak frankly, then it means you have cut through all the b@@!&&#!. You are a new asset to our cause, one I do not know at all. And on the day you join us, this happens. Coincidence, sure, but troubling all the same. I fight to overthrow the Mages and their arrogance and rules. The Cause is not a mercenary service to be hired by angry delvers. This has the stink of the Thieve's Guild all over it, and I do not, in particular, want to deal with them in any manner. Powerful, yes. And they hate the mages for certain. But profit is their only real goal, and no one can trust a profiteer. Doesn't mean I want them gunning for me or anyone else in The Cause, though. Now, perhaps this Dether can be turned to an asset for us ...but for now, I don't want him to even suspect our true nature, if you understand me."
Gair begins to nod at Digger's explanation. Not that the man lacks in intelligence, but he is not gifted with it either. "That reminds me, near the end of the battle this afternoon there was some exchange about leaving a message for... for the thugs... the thieve's guild... here in a couple days time. With all the stress of having my window busted out and the city guard all over the place I'd forgotten about that."
Jake settles in, drinking his beer and continuing to listen to the drunken conversation.
Dev inquires after a room after knowing that one of his group has confirmed his arrival.
Well, I appreciate you showing me respect then. I have spent the past few years since my brother's incarceration by the Mageocracy alone. I will need to learn how to trust again and how to work as a team. Please forgive me. I can guarantee you that my mission is the same as yours. I will submit myself to the group and take your counsel on how to handle Dether.
She holds out her hand to shake as a commitment to solidify her verbal covenant with Diggs.
The barkeep gives Dev a weak smile, revealing a couple of missing teeth. "Three silvers per night. Third door on the right." he says as he fishes a key off the wall from behind him.
The sergeant, being slightly more sober, doesn't slur his words as much. "Bah, what doess it matter Mik. There's always been rumors of demons, you know as well as I do that half the city thinks the mages have a deal with the abyss itself and that's how they came to power. Yet here we still are sitting in a bar for a nice drink. We ain't seeing daily shacrifices to dark powers. The city has not descended into chaos."
"Hmmph. I'd think you'd shee thingsh more clearly. Your guard is stretched thin. Crimes ish on the rise. Pesh flows more freely than it ever hash. Now thish war. The mages have hired a secret group to start cleaning up the messhes. It wash them that went to the tower to inveshtigate. I washn't shupposhed to shee that report, but it passhed through my handsh."
Interesting, sounds like a report worth finding. They are likely to after us if there isn't something more urgent on their plate. Jake continues to listen to the conversation, while thinking over ways to get this man to say more.
To Gair: I may come back and check on that message. Thanks Gair...you are a doll. Kit packs up her bag and smiles at Digger. I'm heading to meet the others. See you soon?
To a Diggs after his response: I can always use a handsome escort. Kit follows him out the door.
Kit heads to the Silver Spirits with Digger.
Kit strolls into the tavern and walks over to the bar to order a drink. She scans the room, but does not act like she notices the others.
"I'll come with you. Listen, we'll look at this Dether guy ...could be worthy, could be financially worthwhile. Also could be something that needs to go away. It's the pure, unpredictable chaos we love so well."
The sergeant gives a smirk to his companion, "Secret strike force of the mages eh? You'd best be on your best behavior then Mik." the sergeant laughs.
Kit and Digger arrive at the tavern a little before Drewan.
Kit orders a drink and strolls over to the table with the two gentlemen. Secret strike force? Do tell! She pulls a chair up, spins it around backwards, and sits down. What are you drinking fellas?
The sergeant gives Kit a glare, but his companion seems happy for the company.
"Some good ole' islander rum."
"Aye, the tower hired a crew with skillsh to sneak around in the dark of night to apprehend criminalsh the guards couldn't catch." He gives a laugh at his companion, whose scowl only deepens. "They'll be the ones to capture and execute Radgar no doubt. And they'll find the shource of all theshe traitoroush rumors floating about. They'll get to the bottom of it."
Dev takes the key and enters the specified third door on the right.
The upstairs room is small, not more than 5' wide and maybe 8' in length. A small bed with a worn blanket filling most of the room. The ceiling is a little low at only 7' in height, making the small room feel even more cramped.
Dev glances around and then checks for a window.
A few cockroaches scurry away as Dev enters the room. A single, small dirty window overlooks the main road that leads out the southern gate. It would be a little bit of a squeeze to fit through it if one were so inclined, but would give easy access to a 2' span of the shingled roof.
The faint odor of past occupants fills the room, and the smell of tobacco smoke drifts up through cracks in the floor to the common room down below.
Dev closes the door after he enters and locks it. He peers out of the window, eyes blinking slowly as he stares into the haze of the night before putting down his hood.
He steeples his hands in the air. His mouth forms familiar words, his tongue rasping alien syllables as a symbol on his forehead begins to glow.
Ohhhhh! How exciting! How could one join this group? Kit orders another round of rum for the two as she continues the conversation. You guys lead such an exciting life...protecting the great people of Coran and all. Another round for these heroes!
Mik guffaws, "You think a pretty kitten like you could handle a job like that. Bela would get a good laugh out o' that."
The sergeant, having a bit more sobriety, or sense, or both, gives Kit a better looking over, his eyes resting a moment on the scimitar hanging from her waist. He smiles apologetically, "Bela would box your ears just for talking about this Mik."
"Bah sheargeant, it'sh not like it'sh a big shecret. With all the problemsh going on a few more hired shwords would be welcome."
She looks at the sergeant. Is what he said true? She smiles warmly. You may have work for me?
I wonder what the others are up to...