Mercutio preens from Ffethpaar's shoulder
"Yes-yes! Food-food-food! Chocolate sweet, tasty treat, Mercutio must EAT!"
Mercutio wraps himslef snugly around Ffethpaar's neck and squeaks;
Draconic:
"I'll accompany you Greep. And Karrin? Perhaps you could conduct yourself in a way that is becoming of a student of Rao..."
Karrin raises an eyebrow.
"I'll have you know that the priests and paladins of Rao are more than capable of thumping evil-doers, it's just that after they've been thumped, followers of Rao like to forgive the evil-doers for their transgressions, and sometimes ask for forgiveness for thumping them. Basically, as I see it, I can do whatever I want as long as I'm sorry for it later . . . well pretty much . . . there are a couple of hitches and conditions . . ."
Karrin suddenly realizes that she's explaining herself to someone who might be equally amoral!
"Hey what would you know about the teaching of Rao? I wouldn't try to scold you for being an improper priest of . . . Loky or Calipers or Moose and flying Squirrel or whoever your a priest of!"
Karrin then realizes that she's been very rude and clamps a hand over her mouth.
"Oh, I get it," she finally says, "you were trying to tease me, I'm sorry for saying those mean things, and Eir," Karrin says trying to look very stoic, "I forgive you."
"Hey what would you know about the teaching of Rao? I wouldn't try to scold you for being an improper priest of . . . Loky or Calipers or Moose and flying Squirrel or whoever your a priest of!"
Karrin then realizes that she's been very rude and clamps a hand over her mouth.
"Oh, I get it," she finally says, "you were trying to tease me, I'm sorry for saying those mean things, and Eir," Karrin says trying to look very stoic, "I forgive you."
"It's Calistra kiddo, let's all just be as civil as possible today, ok? I've had enough bloodbath to last me a year and my spells are running low until evening prayer."
"Ok," Karrin says, an easy smile returning to her face, "I didn't start the fight in the bar you remember, I was just protecting you. I was kinda surprised how you played that though, and I was kinda wondering why you didn't pretend to be new contacts or something? Oh and I was totally playing an over the top mercenary so you could snap at me and look all big and powerful in front of those goblins. "I was expecting a 'put a sock in it Mara' or something. I don't want any violence either, but I needed to pretend to be a dangerous customer so you could look all bad ass. Guess I should have run through what I was doing first huh? Torreen and I used to know what the other was thinking right away . . . I got to get used to working with new people."
...I got to get used to working with new people."
"That was more or less the plan. But then there wasn't much we could do once the fighting started except kill our way out."
"That was more or less the plan. But then there wasn't much we could do once the fighting started except kill our way out."
"Well, if nothing else, we proved that we're pretty tough fighters. We make a good team when it comes to busting heads but I guess our talking stuff needs work."
"Ladies, shall we go?"
-greep-
"I look forward to introducing you both to my friend."
Swift watches Ffethpaar and Mercutio with a small smile, suddenly reminded of her friends and how much she wants to see them, to check up on how things are going with her second, younger 'owner'. "Do we think we'll have time later to go pursue personal interests, briefly?" She questions in general before giving mercutio a small grin.
Draconic:
Renkar nods to Swift.
"I think Ffethpaar and I will be able to babysit Ser Nurkrak. Just please don't tarry as we don't know if we are going to have to check out the warehouse and I'd like to have you present to show us what you saw."
Eir, Karrin and Greep depart for Quint's kip. The sky has darkened as Before Antipeak begins . They take Thread Alley, which is a novelty for the two women, accustomed as they are to the main thouroughfares.
The narrow alleyway backs many businesses on the way to the Great Bazaar. The air is redolent with mop water and ordure, the cobbles slick with liquid. An apprentice pours a bucket out a few doors in front of them as they walk, the brown water splashing muck about and dripping down to a grate set in the alley's lowest spot. Many workers are headed home after a long Peak at work. The alley hums with the chatter of apprentices, touts and peddlers. There are no beggars or jinkskirts about, probably because Thread Alley is a working-class thouroughfare, and the opportunities for profit in those two trades slim.
Advertisements, blackboards, broadsheets and handbills cluster on the uneven walls of the alley. Rickety staircases wend their way to appartments above the businesses and the trio can hear many families talking, laughing or shouting as they walk on.
Greep, always alert for messages from his Thread Alley Wyrm friend spots a blackboard with a hint of darker letters setting out a cipher:
"... the bENEfits of MIElikki'S Pine WATer inClude improved skin Health and a more YOUthful visage, erasing lines and BlEmishes When Applied RegularlY."
The trio wends it's way to Quint's tenement without incident. Greep scales the groaning ancient wooden stairway, and after a shared glance the two women do as well. Greep knocks on the door and hears his friend within:
"Yes ... who ... is ... it?"
Ffethpaar nods at Swift as if to say he understands. then turns to Renkar
To Mercitio (draconic)
::Patience, little friend. We have things that we must do, but I will see to it that you do not go hungry. When did you last eat?::
"My dragon friend here says he needs feeding. Do you have a morsel handy? Then let us go and minister to Nurkrak. Perhaps he could do with some food too. I might even try talking to him myself. And when we have finished there, I could do with some food too - I don't remember eating for a long time."
Renkar smiles.
"The little fiend has eaten not two hours ago before he ran off to nap. Feel free to fetch some food from the Coppper Cauldron as soon as I return. I shant be but 20 minutes at the most. The alchemy shop is but a few blocks over. Until then I think I have something for you."
Renkar reaches into his robe and removes two bright-red apples.
"There! One for the Bag of Devouring masquerading as a Faerie Dragon and one for my kind-hearted companion."
Mercutio snatches up the proferred apple and hungrily devours it.
"My thanks."
He eats the apple and settles down to wait until Renkar returns, exchanging small talk with Mercutio.
"Yes ... who ... is ... it?"
"It is I, Greep. Are you accepting clients today? The Company of the Silver Rose would like a consultation with you."
-greep-
Mercutio and Ffethpaar spend the time Renkar goes to the alchemists in discussion of tasty insects they have sampled, and various fish and amphibians qualities.
Renkar is gone for 20 minutes then returns with a waxed-paper packet. Inside is a few cones of dark incense. Renkar enters the room and Ffethpaar can hear Nurkrak shreiking again. Renkar reemerges a few moments later.
"Black Lotus incense. We'll let him rest a bit now. He will be much calmer when we return. Would you like to come downstairs and catch a bite with me and Mercutio?"
Greep hears a five-part chuckle emanate from the door.
"You ... are ... playing ... a ... joke ... on ... your ... friend ... Quint ... Greep. But ... come ... in ... please."
Greep, Eir and Karrin enter into Quint's tenement. Quint's five bodies are engaged in dinner preparation. One of Quint's bodies seems to be preparing some sort of stew at the fire, and another of his bodies was setting the table. Another body turns and Karrin and Eir see Quint's face, a smiling blue goblin one. He/they approaches Greep and shakes his hand, looking over the two women.
"I ... see ... that ... you ... have ... brought ... friends. Greetings ... I ... am ... Quint." The five blue bodies seem to share the chore of speaking, each one speaking a word in turn.
The smiling blue goblin puts out his hand to each woman in turn.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Quint. Greep speaks very highly of you."
"Wow!" Karrin says, looking in amazement at the five goblins, examining each one in turn, and then turning and speaking to the one to talk (and possibly also the one that extended his hand), "how do you know what the other ones are going to say like that?"
After making the proper introductions, Greep turns serious.
"My friend, I was serious in asking for a consultation. The Silver Rose is in need of your advice. We are engaged in an operation that has begun to complicate." -greep- "Our Recon mission led to an unfortunate battle. We were forced to confront our target before sufficient intellegence was gathered, and as a result, we were forced to kill people we did not wish to." -greep-eep- "Now we are in a position to question a survivor, yet lack the means to do so. In our custody is a sorcerer, whose has information that we need. From what we have learned, his people have enslaved 'scaleskins' to toil on a particularly unpleasant Elemental plane." -greeep- "We believe he can give us the leads we require, but lack the means to extract the information from him. Can you, will you assist?" -greep- "Be aware, our interest is not solely altruistic. We seek to fulfill our contract."
"Know that the prisoner is a goblin sorcerer. And that you may need to visit our headquarters to examine him. Also, know that you have my thanks whatever you decide."
-GReeP-
Quint shakes Eir's hand gravely.
"A ... pleasure ... to ... make ... your ... acquaintence ... Eir"
Quint smiles at Karrin.
"There ... is ... no ... five ... of ... us ... only ... Quint. It ... is ... easier ... to ... think ... of ... the ... bodies ... you ...see ... here ... as ... the ... fingers ... of ... a ... hand. You ... can ... move ... your ... fingers ... in ... different ... ways ... yet ... they ... remain ... one ... hand."
Quint then listens to Greep, his sunny disposition fading a bit
"Truly ... I ... do ... not ... enjoy ... invading ... other ... beings ... minds. I ... will ... do ... this ... for ... you ... though ... friend ... Greep ... if ... it ... will ... help ...you. You ... have ... been ... very ... kind ... to ... me ... since ... I ... arrived ... here."
Quint smiles again.
"But ... please ... come ... share ... my ... meal ... with ... me. You ... can ... tell ... me ... about ... what ... happened ... with ... the ... goblins."
Quint leads them to his rough table and seats them. Another of his bodies brings the stewpot out and pours out a thick stew with mushrooms, whitish blobs of material and some sort of dark meat in it. Slices of brown bread are doled out by another body. A third pours a dark pungent ale into the chipped ceramic mugs. As there are only six chairs at the table, two of Quint's bodies resume tidying up the area and making sure everyone has a full plate.
Karrin Glances at her hand (wiggling her fingers as if to test the theory) before glancing up at the five goblins. She still has a look of confusion on her face but that quickly vanishes with the mention of food.
"Wow," Karrin says with a smile, "you're very generous! I ate not to long ago but I could probably eat a bit more."
"There ... is ... no ... five ... of ... us ... only ... Quint. It ... is ... easier ... to ... think ... of ... the ... bodies ... you ...see ... here ... as ... the ... fingers ... of ... a ... hand. You ... can ... move ... your ... fingers ... in ... different ... ways ... yet ... they ... remain ... one ... hand."
"So then what do you call your hand?"
"So then what do you call your hand?"
"He calls himself Quint," Karrin says sitting down at their table, "that bit about the hand is an analogy, or a cinnamon, or something . . . I never payed much attention to books and stuff, but when he says . . ." Karrin stops mid sentence and blinks, "wait . . . you were trying to be funny again! I get it, like that joke about the wooden leg named Smith, and the other guy wanted to know the name of the . . . hmmm, how did that go again?"
"So then what do you call your hand?"
The five blue goblins snicker in unison.
"Very ... funny ... Eir. I ... would ... have ... to ... call ... my ... hand ... QuintQuint ... I ... guess."
Quint's three seated bodies gesture to the food.
"Please ... friends, ... relax ... and ... eat. This ... is ... a ... Mushroom, ... Cave ... Fungus ... and ... Rothe ... stew ... with ... a ... bit ... of ... White ... Thyme ... and ... Deep ... Rosemary ... for ... seasoning. Dip ... the ... brown ... bread ... in ... it. The ... drink ... is ... Mushroom ... Ale ... from ... the ... Svartalfar ... Brewery ... in ... the ... Great ... Bazaar."
Eir chows down on the food and ale with enthusiasm, although probably not as much a Karrin.
"Om nom nom nom nom!"
Eir, Greep and Karrin all take part in Quint's supper. The stew was tasty, if exotic, and the ale a little strong for Karrin's taste, but a good time is enjoyed by all.
After dinner, Quint accompanies the trio out to Thread Alley and they make their way through thickening fog to Copper Court and the Silver Rose.
Their journey is unremarkable, Thread Alley being seldom trod at street level in the Antipeak hours. The women get an occasional cat-call from men up in the higher levels. The tops of the buildings are alive with movement. Newly-returned beings having a post work bub lean out from windows all along the higher floors. females and children of many races play, work and gossip on the rickety landings and stairs that weave a complex splintery spiderweb back and forth along the narrow gaps above Thread Alley.
Copper Court appears, and the group heads to the Silver Rose. Renkar and Ffethpaar meet them at the door, and they climb the stairs to the second level.
The conference room is wrapped in a smoky haze, the Black Lotus incense collecting in a brownish haze at the room's ceiling. Nurkrak seems calmer, his eyes half shut and his countenance groggy. He still works up the energy to spit in their direction when they enter.
Renkar opens the door and fans it a bit to disperse the narcotic fumes. Quint surrounds Nurkrak, his five bodies making an even blue circle around the goblin caster. Quint's bodies close their eyes and link hands. Nurkrak giggles, then he blanches.
Goblin:
In my head gettem outta my head my head no urgh no my head!
The group can see Quint's five faces wince then smooth out. Nurkrak seems to calm as well, and in a minute he has closed his eyes and fallen asleep. Quint holds hands for a minute after this then his five bodies break apart.
"So ... much ... anger. Is ... this ... what ... goblins ... are ... like?" Quint looks sad
"This ... being ... has ... sacrificed ... sentients ... and ... enslaved ... them ... as ...well. He ... worships ... an ... angry ... god ... of ... war. He ... hates ... everyone ... not ... goblin. ..."
Quint looks nauseated, which is magnified five-fold by all his bodies.
"I ... think ... I ... know ... where ... they... get ... the ... salt."
Quint steadies himself by forming a circle of hands again.
"Their ... base ... is ... in ... the ... Outlands ... through ... their ... warehouse. The ... key ... is ... an ... agate. Their ... mine ... is ... in ... a ... valley ... there ... by ... a ... huge ... waterfall. There ... is ... another ... gate ... there ... that ... takes ... them ... to ... the ...Great ... Salt. It ... uses ... a ... white ...marble ... as ...its ... key."
Quint breaks off, his five faces looking ill.
"That ... is ... all ... I ... could ... learn ... I'm ... sorry."
"No you were a big help Mr Quint!" Karrin says, "That's more then we could get out of him, and now I don't feel so bad about killing his boss. They seemed like bad types and now with your information we now they are! Also what you've given us is going to make our hunt that much easier.
"It must not have been nice looking into his head," Karrin says glancing over the quintet of shaky goblins, "like stepping into something unpleasant or something. I hope that didn't put you off or anything."
"So ... much ... anger. Is ... this ... what ... goblins ... are ... like?"
"I'm so sorry I had to ask you to do that, my friend." -greep- "But be assured, not all Goblins are like this one. When I traveled with the Lady P, my mentor was a Goblin named Nori Twelve-Toes. And a nicer, more friendly being you wouldn't want to meet. He made it a point to look-out for me and was always concerned with my well-being."
-GreeP-
"This living piece of trash isn't as he is because of his race. Like some individuals of any race, he has chosen his dark side." -greep- "There is the potential for evil in all of us, but both you and I and these friends around us have not embraced it."
-gREEp-
"In the case of Nurkrak, it is my belief that his whole tribe revels in their evil. What you have discovered will help us confront their deeds." -greep- "You have given us much to work with. Thank you."
-gReEp-
"Must you return to your house tonight? Or can we offer a return of your generous hospitality?" -greep-
Swift leaves casually, giving a friendly goodbye the Ffethpaar and Mercutio. It's only when she's outside and around the corner that she breaks into a sprint, knowing she has very little time and a lot to do in it. Weaving through people the tibbit first heads towards Edwin's, stopping along the way to pick up some cream for Mystery, and some mice if she manages to spot anywhere along the way. The sense of urgency around the young woman is palpable, a girl to check up on, a familiar to pay for scouting and then there was the fact she hadn't seen Skrint in far too long. It's almost enough to drive the tibbit to utter frustration.
Swift runs down Copperman Way, weaving through the Before Antipeak throng like a dancer in a crowded hall. She stops and procures a bottle of cream and a small wicker cage with several mice squeaking in it . She flits down to Wooly Cupgrass' Alchemy Shop, the corner stone of Herbalist's Row, where Edwin keeps kip.
The display window of Wooly's shop is filled with a smoking purple beaker that a small ice mephit stirs with a glass rod. The mephit, no larger than an imp of quasit, flaps his whitish/blue wings gently, and blows his frosty breath on the bubbling concoction.
Herbalist's Row is redolent in spicy, intriguing smells. The windows and higher landings are bedecked with a profusion of potted plants. Their scents combine into a spicy symphony.
Edwin's door is closed, but Swift knocks, panting slightly from her run. The old wizard opens his door a crack and smiles.
"Good Antipeak Swift! Come in!"
Quint's five faces smile wanly.
"I ... think ... I ... would ... like ... to ... go ... home ... friend ... Greep. The ... experience ... has ... been ... taxing."
Renkar speaks up
"Mr. Quint, please take this sum as a small token of appreciatation from the Silver Rose Company for your assistance tonight."
Renkar hands Quint a small pouch that clinks sweetly. One of Quint's bodies accepts it and stashes it in his patched cloak.
"Thank ... you ... Ser ... Renkar. Greep ... could ... you ... see ... me ... home?"
Zigel and Hanali leave the Silver Rose. Outside a large palaquin sits, a set of burly men chatting softly to themselves stand to one side. At the two's appearance they assume their posts and wait for Hanali and Zigel to enter and get comfotable. Hanali passes a few coins to the front left man, and the litter is lifted and borne away towards the Lady's Ward.
Hanali opens a small clutch purse and removes a small mirror. She examines herself and pushes a few stray locks of blonde hair back into place. She fiddles and primps with her ball gown, adjusting the pleats of her skirt and arrainging her bustier so that it presents an even line. She looks over at Zigel and asks:
"So Ser Zigel, what are you off to do tonight?"
"Thank ... you ... Ser ... Renkar. Greep ... could ... you ... see ... me ... home?"
"Of course my friend. Of course." -greep- "Would you share a bracing cup of tea with me before we leave?"
"Ffethpaar, Would you mind accompaning us back to Quint's home? For some reason, I'm feeling especially wary this evening. And perhaps Karrin could join us as well."
"... the bENEfits of MIElikki'S Pine WATer inClude improved skin Health and a more YOUthful visage, erasing lines and BlEmishes When Applied RegularlY."
"Well, boss, got anywhere we can send a goblin we don't want back?"
"Sure, I'll come with ya," Karrin says, "We'll get you all home Quint."
"Well, boss, got anywhere we can send a goblin we don't want back?"
Renkar looks at Eir
"Go get another wishbone. I'd wait until a little later in the evening though."
Renkar brews a quick pot of tea and everyone has a cup before the group sets out for Quint's home.
Greep, Karrin and Ffethpaar all escort the five blue goblins down Thread Alley once again. The darkness has deepened, and a misty rain is falling, causing fog to rise up and thicken. The throngs of tenement dwellers have shut their windows and doors for the night, with just a smattering of youths lounging on stair landings above the group's heads. These kids hoot and holler once in a while, but the background of people noise is much quieter than before.
Quint's tenenment is reached without incident. The blue goblins seem tired, and bid the three goodnight and climb the stairs to their dwelling. Greep gets the feeling that Quint was exhausted by his probing of Nurkrak.
The three turn tail and start to walk back to the Silver Rose.
Eir is going to stay near the goblin while the others are out.
Eir decides to keep an eye on the snoozing Nurkrak. She informs Renkar where she'll be. Renkar seconds the idea, mentioning that he has a bit of work to do in his office down the hallway from the conference room the goblin is stashed in. He and Mercutio walk off to the end of the corridor.
Eir enters the room, the heavy perfume of the Black Lotus incense still permeating the space. Nurkrak is awake now, but very groggy. His eyes are wider than Eir has seen them, and his pupils are very large. He sees Eir entering and giggle/chokes a bit, wheezing and cawing like some nightmarish crow. He starts chanting softly in his native tongue.
Goblin:
::Mablubiyet tests me, I must be like steel on the anvil. He beats the weakness from my soul and sharpens my hate to a razor edge. I will cut my enemies to ribbons with my anger::
Karrin, as usual, hears and sees nothing.
"Shut up, melonhead."
Nurkrak looks up at Eir. He chitters in a squeaky voice in broken Common.
"You give up now me just sell you to slave pits, you make me much gold. You keep me tied me kill you slow, maybe mark you good and sell you to devils for make you larvae in Maggot Pits."
The goblin giggles and leers at Eir drunkenly.
"Hair nice, make good hat. Me varnish your pinkskin eyes and make earrings for me third Svraksha."
Goblin
"She like pinkskin eye color."
After watching to make sure Quint gets in his door ok, Greep looks at his companions and smiles.
"Its a much better night tonite than last night. No rain yet, and some company."
-greep-
"Good antipeak Edwin" Swift exhales, still panting a bit from her brisk trip over. "I come bearing gifts for Mystery" She explains, holding up the goods she's picked up as she enters the wizard's kip.
"I just came for a quick catchup, I've been worried about poor Emelia, yet at the same time I've managed to get a job as me along side my catform's latest owner so I'm running in circles a lot" She babbles before giving a little sigh.
"She like pinkskin eye color."
"Say another word and I'll gag you."
Edwin ushers Swift into his house.
"It sounds like you have been up to a lot since yesterday." He says as he guides Swift to a chair.
Mystery looks up and her ears perk up at the sight of the goodies. She yowls and rubs against Swift
Feline:
Edwin puts the kettle on for tea and sits down.
"What have you been up to my dear?"
Nurkrak grins
"Word"
The small goblin spits a mouthfull of drool at Eir, spraying her with yellowish phlegm.
The three hurry back to the Silver Rose. They pass a few early revelers stepping out, but these folks rarely stay on the narrow twists of Thread Alley. Most of the cutters now are cleaning up their business, and dropping wastewater down the many large drains set in the cobbles. The air is scented with soap and ordure, as folks from higher up add their wastes to the alley's cobbles.
They return to the Silver Rose . The bottom floor is empty, but there are muffled scrapes and subaudible sounds coming form the second floor.