Sic began piling loot back into Haversack's and Bag's of holding to be gone over better later.
Alright, the rope warehouse it is then. Milah, get word to the mistress yah? We need a sit down I'd say.
"We could just bring them with us for now." Anthony muttered, hoisting a corpse onto one shoulder. "If they are found there, we have bigger problems than a few corpses."
He nodded at Sics next words, even as he bent down to hoist another corpse. "Yes, time to get a priority list. The waters have been muddied on that front the last few days."
Milah gives a nod and heads out into the street with plans to meet back at the rope shop.
One by one you make your separate ways back to front, and are quietly let inside, slipping down to the lower level to wait.
It is after dark when the Mistress arrives with Milah, and another individual in tow.
Mistress Diguri gives a wicked smile, "I heard you made off with quite a haul this afternoon. You are to be commended for taking out the mages lackeys."
"But straight to business for now. It has no doubt drawn their attention. It would be wise to lay low for a time, but unfortunately we do not have that luxury at present."
"Speaking of the mages, there is something else going on. There has been a lot of activity today around the tower. A great many guard captains and other overly important individuals have been scurrying about the tower like a hive of wasps today. This all started before your skirmish, so it wasn't related to that. Something to keep an ear out for though."
She grabs a chair and flips it around to sit on it backwards. "Tasem, would you get fetch me a drink please?" The muscular lieutenant rises with a smile, "Of course Mistress."
Diguri continues, "I presume you have already heard that Rosuc was taken by the mages? He has also already been released by them. Rosuc, strictly speaking, is not one of us. He has his uses, and usually has the good sense to know when to keep his mouth shut. His own skin has, and always will be, his top priority though. It is important we find out exactly what he told the mages and what deal he has struck with them."
"There are also still three loose ends that need to be taken care of in order of importance. Maklo needs to be dead by morning, with Firyin soon after. Then the whereabouts of a certain merchant must be located and an example made of unless he can come up with next months payment early."
She then goes silent, waiting to see if you have any questions or information in return.
"So many things going on these last few days, its easy to forget the world around us is still moving." Anthony mused, seated with his elbows on the table. "With so much to do, and needing to lay low, suppose we take this Dether up on his offer and task him with one of our objectives?" His brow furrowed at his own words. "Ofcourse, we dont really know how capable he is, but he looked like he could take care of himself. And he was able to find us after all. Maybe have him take care of Maklo?"
He was silent a moment, thinking. "If the Tower activity isnt linked to us, then that is likely to our advantage. If nothing else it will lessen the odds of them interfering." He shifted in his chair, then looked around at everyone as he spoke, hoping for opinions from the rest. "I think we may need to split up again, to cover more ground, time being of the essence. There are plenty of variables that will likely need to adjust for what Im about to suggest, but I expect the rest of you will have good opinions on the matter." He took a deep breath, before laying out his suggestion. "We stick Dether on Maklo, possibly with one of us or some other guild members going with him, for support and to keep an eye on him. One of us will go to see Rosuc, assuming we know where he is?" He looked at the Mistress questioningly, although he continued talking. "Everyone else then focuses on dealing with Firyin. The matter of the merchant, being a newer problem and less time sensitive, we forget about for the time being. I trust the matter can wait a day or two? I personally nominate myself to visit Rosuc."
Finally done, he waited for the answers, objections and alternate suggestions he knew would undoubtedly come.
Sic leaned casually against a wooden column and crossed his arms over his armored chest and shook his head.
"I says we forget all about Dether. I aint going near the Seven's turf. Too sketchy and we got enough on our plate. Aint no way we can trust that fancy dork to put a hit on a guild stoolie either."
Turning towards their Mistress he continued.
"Is Maklo on the lam or is he still on the wrong side of the bars? We snuff Maklo's candle then head out to see Firyin at the Murdoch's. That puts us out of the city for a bit and out from under the Tower's eye. You can bet they're gonna be coming for us. Cant that debacle go unchecked. They'll lose too much face."
Diguri sips from a wine cup Tasem as brought her, and makes a gesture to the remaining bottle to say 'Help yourself'.
"He's still being held at the western gate."
"Who is this Dether?"
There was a lyre taken from the drow woman the other night that I believe has been forgotten about that you had been unable to identify.
Anthony identifies the item as a lyre of building.
Some dandy in fine clothes, packing five foot of steel but no armor that we met near the safe house. Said he was looking for a crew to pull a B and E on the Library to help him find some books of all things. Creepy thing was...
Sic paused as he wasn't prone to admitting any shortcomings on his part but this information could be pertinent.
...I couldn't get a read on him Mistress. As far as I could tell he had no discernable moral compass. Its like he was blank. Sketchy I said.
"That's not like you Sic, to be concerned over someones personal values." she teases. "Some other time you will need to point him out to me. For someone looking to break into the library he doesn't sound like the care free live and let live type."
Diguri turns to Milah, "I'm going to put you on watch duty. I want to know more about what is going on at the tower, see if there is anything we can use to our advantage. Tasem and Smet, the two of you are to continue to assist the crew here."
"I'm going to go look up your new friend Bannali, see if I can find out more about what he is up to and why."
Haha...hohoho...
Sic's throaty chuckle was genuine and he nodded his head towards the mistress at her jest.
Aye, it aint like me at all but it is what it is. He'll be waiting for a 'Crito' at the Barren Mermaid for the next few days. Blond, nice threads...Im sure he'll stick out like a sore thumb down at the Mermaid.
The half orc walked over and helped himself to the wine and waited to hear the others chime in.
"I'll have to swing by the place and get a look at him."
Vaek, having only listened to the mistress until finally speaks up. "Our course of action seems clear. Maklo needs to be dead by morning. While in theory it would have merit to split up to accomplish multiple tasks at once. As was pointed out, ideally we would lay low. Considering that the Mages thought they could use me as a decoy, they are bound to focus on Maklo now. It would stand to reason that they would increase the guard where he is being kept. Unless Mistress, do you feel that Dether can take care of Maklo by himself?"
Vaek rubbed his hand on his stump. "No, we focus on one task at a time, so no others are lost. Strength in numbers will win the day. Once Maklo is dead, then we move on to Firyin. Although, I am really looking to get my hand on Jumai." His anger filling the last sentence.
Feeling the pain of Mael's loss and Sorad deserting the crew. Vengeance truly was the only thing on his mind, but he felt it best to hide that in front of the Mistress.
"I had hoped Maklo would have been released by now, would make for an easier target." Anthony said, pausing a moment. "Although, lately its been nothing but ambushes. With our luck, if he were to be released, that would probably be one as well." He stretched in his chair, arms high over his head, before dropping them and slouching in his chair. "So, we make the rounds, first Maklo, then Firyin at the Murdocs?"
Vaek nodded his head in agreement. That rat has lived longer then needed. Unfortunately, there isn't time to case the joint out. This one is going to be messy.
"Take care of Maklo tonight. For Firyin you will want Milah's assistance most likely, but it might be good to scout out the Murdock's estate after Maklo is dead to start making plans for the following night. And don't forget to hit up Rosuc."
Mistress Diguri stands, getting ready to depart, "If there is nothing else to be discussed, meet back here tomorrow at noon."
'Til then Mistress.' Sic tipped his head in Diguri's direction.
The half orc drained his mug and grumbled, 'Right then, time for some shut eye so we're fresh for tonight. We stop and see this Rosuc on the way to snuff Maklo and then out to the Murdoch's. We're gonna need some time to gear up proper once these tasks are done. See you in a bit fellas.'
Sic stalked off towards his bunk space and made short work of removing his plate armor and falling asleep fully intending to commit murder later that night.
After some rest the group heads to The Silver Spirits a little before midnight. From a description given by the Mistress the man is easy to locate in the small crowded tavern. He sits with a woman with a long single braid of hair down her back. Despite the packed nature of the tavern there is a definite, though small, half circle around the two. If not for the wall at their backs you'd expect the circle would be a full one.
An ugly scar, not unlike the one Vaek wore recently marks his forehead.
Wearing the guise of the mercenary thug he had appeared as before, Anthony entered the tavern, having gone in a few minutes before the others. Going to the bar, he placed an order before looking around. Spotting the man, he frowned as he saw the scar. Putting his mug of ale to his lips, he whispered into it, his words reaching the others through the Message spell he had cast before entering. "Nothing looks obviously out of place." He paused a moment to actually drink from the mug. "Our mans got the same souvenir Vaek just had removed though."
"And here I was thinking, I was special." Vaek gulps down his ale.
"Let's be quick about this, no telling when the mage thugs will show up again."
As Anthony watches Rosuc the man just sits in his chair, a bit glumly, drinking an ale. When he finishes it he orders another. The barmaid giving him a scowl, which he doesn't seem to notice.
Vaek walks over and pulls up a chair across from Rosuc. "Nice ornament you have there. You've been with visiting the Mages. And yet here you are free. How does that work?"
Sic had been reluctant to enter what he figured could ...only be a trap of some sort... so he stayed outside and kept an eye on the streets and paid close attention to those coming and going from the Silver Spirits. His magic had him guised as a shorter, plumper orc that was down on his luck.
Rosuc looks at Vaek, glancing over his face, then down to his arm and missing hand. "You tell me Vaek, personally I'd have removed more than your hand if you'd stolen something from me." His emphasis on Vaek's name telling of what that missing hand indicates and who he is speaking with.
Leaving the bar, Anthony sauntered over Rosucs table. He stood behind Vaek, taking a sip of his drink. "Rosuc is it?" He said in the dimwitted yet sly voice he had come to use with his disguise, taking another sip. "Ya some kinda touff guy, wot wit all dese other peoples bein' all considerate an' affordin' ya all dis space?" He gestured at the open circle around the table. "Whos the broad then? Maybe she the one gettin' respect?"
He straightened up, raising the mug to his lips again, then lowered it a few inches to speak. "Ah, but aint really me bidness now is it?" He chuckled, then downed the remains of his drink. "Me mum always did say I was too curious fer me own good."
He set the mug down on the table, then patted Vaek on the shoulder. "But where are me manners, I best be lettin' ya do wot you was doin' eeh Vaek? Ya just let me know if'n it gets to be punchin' time right? Ill be in me office?" He laughed loudly at his own words as he made his way back to the bar.
Rosuc gives a gruff laugh at Anthony's words, "Yea, something like that. I got the whole city shaking at my presence." He drains his cup then stands up, giving Vaek a curt nod, 'Come with me' it says. He then walks out the door with the lady on his arm.
Crouched in a side alley waiting, a whispered voice enters your ear, "There you are, all alone. Now we will silence your vile mouth forever." The voice is female, but beyond that you don't pick up an accent or anything else to give you more of a clue who might of whispered it or where the voice is coming from.
The whispering voice seemed to crawl up Sic's spine and his intial startlement quickly evaporated when he realized that any real threat would have cut him deep before daring to utter such a bold threat. He grinned in the dark and whispered back knowing that Drovic and their new guy were somewhere near him if the warning had any validity.
Hahaha...I am never truly alone...and you are as dumb a broad as the last one that dared to come against me and mine. You want to end up defiled and in little pieces too? Then shut your whore mouth and come meet your end.
His brashness didnt over ride the caution of scanning his surroundings... just in case, that is...
Vaek, rises with Rosuc. Eyeing the room as he follows him.
Anthony watched Vaek and Rosuc leave as nonchalantly as he could manage, ordering another drink with no intention of drinking it. As they exited, he remained in the tavern, determined to spot anyone who might be following them.
Rosuc heads outside with Vaek following and starts heading down the street, passing Sic hiding in a side alley.
"Tavern was getting a bit to warm and toasty with that blazing fire in there." Rosuc remarks casually. "Word on the street is that your not as good as you think you are Vaek. I'd hate to see you lose the fine reputation you've built up over the years, folks would stop trusting you with information."
He's talking about one thing as if making casual conversation, but you pick up on an underlying message.
To many people in the tavern to trust, especially with the towers eye on him.
How good are you really Vaek? And what is it you've come to talk about?
The woman that was sitting with Rosuc gets up a few minutes after they leave and heads for the door.
Taking in the fresh air in was a nice change of pace. Tavern's tended to be over crowded and noisy.
[b]Perhaps now with less ears and eyes around, we stop with the posturing. I am as good as it gets frankly. And with my crew, there is very few tasks that we can't accomplish. As for you. What did the Tower pinch you for?
Vaek while still slightly behind Rosuc, closely gauges his response in effort to see if he will speak plainly.
Taking in the fresh air in was a nice change of pace. Tavern's tended to be over crowded and noisy.
[b]Perhaps now with less ears and eyes around, we stop with the posturing. I am as good as it gets frankly. And with my crew, there is very few tasks that we can't accomplish. As for you. What did the Tower pinch you for?
Vaek while still slightly behind Rosuc, closely gauges his response in effort to see if he will speak plainly.
"Regardless of where you live, you can always find rats in the sewers." responds Rosuc. "It's been nice of you to come by and talk philosophy with me."
Rosuc now directs his subterfuge directly to Vaek, to be sure he gets the message clearly.
"We can't be sure there aren't still ears listening in. Now tell me what you want or quit bothering me."
"I've had enough of taverns for the night, and company." she sneers at Anthony.
She lets out a whimper as the pressure increases, but when she speaks there is a fire in her voice, "You leave Rosuc alone. He's enough to worry about with the mages watching his every move. What do you want from him?"
Rosuc slaps his forehead, his hand hitting the scar there. "I should have thought of that", he says with sarcasm. "Look, money is tight right now, why don't you hit up your pirate friend from the cove to see if he can help you out, he's due for shore leave in a few days."
The mages want him to lead them to a contact from Issust Hold, which should be showing up in the near future.
While not an expert in talking in code. He suspects Rosuc understands that he should contact us once that meeting is setup, so we can provide some unexpected company
While the scar had been staring him in the face, it suddenly dawned on him, that the Mages are probably following Rosuc with their devilish magic. It was time to get out of there... and quickly.
"I am sure you will be in touch
Vaek returns to the tavern and his companions
Entering the tavern, he goes over to Anthony whispering in in their guild tongue "We need to leave now!"
"They... they wanted something to do with the Usturn. Rosuc understands what is going on better than I do. Someone from the Hold contacts him every month or so. I think the mages plan to bring them in for questioning."
Satisfied with the answers for now, Anthony left the woman, returning to the tavern.
"Fine by me." Anthony agreed with a nod as Vaek returned, before following him out of the tavern. "I think we have done what we came for. I spoke to the woman Rosuc was with. If she is to be believed, the mages are interested in Rosuc for his contacts from the Hold, not us."
"Hmm, Usturn, who or what was that again?" He wondered.
Gathering the group together as they leave the tavern. Speaking in their guild language. "I don't know how the dark magic works, but with Rosuc still wearing the souvenir the Mages have given him. Any conversations with him could potentially lead the mages right too us."
Looking over his shoulder for unwanted ears. "Anthony, I believe the woman you were speaking too. Rosuc mentioned a similar bit of information. I suggested that when that meeting take place, we utilize it as an ambush. Maybe we can rid this world of their assassins group once and for all. But for now, we need to prep for Maklo.
As they continue to walk into the darkness. "Anthony .. Sic, am I being paranoid in their ability to track us? You both understand the arcane better then I. What can and can't they do?
"Well..." Anthony began, stroking his chin thoughtfully as usual. "There are a great many spells dealing with the subject, some would say an entire school really." He paused a moment and started looking at his surroundings more intently for a moment, a sliver of paranoia spurred on by Vaek. "There are spells that guide you towards an object or person, spells that allow you to view things at a distance, some close range, like clairvoyance, others far reaching, like scrying."
He remained silent once more as they walked, hand never leaving his chin. "Our ability to thwart such spells is limited. Only the most powerful magic can ward off divinations with certainty. That or staying in a lead lined building." He sniggered, but quickly straightened his back and cleared his throat. "Ahem. Im afraid there isnt much to be done. There is a spell, Nondetection, which does exactly what the name implies. But it isnt foolproof."
"With the witches scar. Did that enable her to hear or see mine and Rosuc's conversation? I would hate to be planning an ambush only to be on the wrong side of it."
The darkness cooled the air. He thought he could feel his fingers that had be removed with his hand not long ago. Clenching his lone fist he continued, "With my magic shoes, wear it was broadcasting my location, that was probably the work of a mage with significant mastery. More powerful then the witches scar. It seems to me we need to take whatever precautions necessary so they can't find us so easily. Its one thing to be caught off guard by a mage with such mastery, but if I'm going to get pinched again, its not going to be by a witch like we have seen.
"Perhaps the Mistress has something to help on that front." Anthony mused. "If anything, her business is far shadier than ours, Id think she will atleast be well prepared for such things. Then again, she likely has the funds for such luxury."
"As for the scar." He added. "As far as Im aware from what little time Ive had to talk to Drovic, It only allows her to influence him with her hexes from afar. It does however also give her a strong link to him for the purposes of the aforementioned scrying." He shrugged at his lack of truly useful information. "So for all we know, they very well could have been listening in."