Swift gives a sigh at Merle's words and stares up at the ceiling.
Feline;
...
She looks down her nose at Hergik & Jak and gives them a non-committal wave, as if they were below her, but politely.
Hergik and Jak give Bethany the once over, dwelling a little overly long on her attributes in her estimation
"Well, yeh're certainly travelling in exotic circles these peaks Issac!" Jak exclaims, hoisting his clay mug and taking a swallow.
The two Godsmen fall in with Issac.
"Lead on, mercenary extroidinaire!"
"Hello Isaac," Karrin says when she joins Bethany, "are you guys just getting back as well?"
Assuming Isaac explains the situation Karrin frowns:
"Um, we might have to make some decisions soon," Karrin says, "we found some stuff and stumbled into something else. We better report to Renkar first. It might not be in our best interest doing more exploring and questioning people until we figure out what we already know and figure out what questions to ask from there . . . unless this place is only open this time of night or something . . . in which case you'd probably better go, but I got to report to Renkar and get something to eat. I haven't had a meal in almost four hours and I'm getting hungry!"
"Well, Merle and Swift are already back there and I've already had a chat with Renkar. But I suppose I should be there for any decisions made and plans layed. I'll head back with you and retrace my steps when we're all briefed. That would be the professional thing to do, after all."
To Hergik and Jak.
"Sorry, mates. I'll have to put my current mission on hold. Maybe I'll see you there, later."
Feline
To Hergik and Jak.
"Sorry, mates. I'll have to put my current mission on hold. Maybe I'll see you there, later."
Hergik and Jak nod
"well if yeh must. We'll saunter on down and try and snag a good table near the stage."
Justin and the others Manage to make their way through the crowds towards Issac. Mainly with the polite but strong Karrin making a path through the growing throng.
Justin Nods at Karrin;s words.
"Yeah, I have to admit food sounds good to me too. I, Uh,... kinda skipped breakfast this morning."
His stomach makes a sudden noise that is easily distinguished even over the noise of the street.
"And, uh, lunch too, it seems." He mumbles abashedly.
"Although the Rose, or this joint, neither make any difference to me. But we might want to be a bit, circumspect, in our professional conversations. I think what we stumbled onto may be the tip of an iceburg. We might not want anyone eavesdropping on us while we're talking about it." He says in a lower aside to both Karrin and Issac.
Bethany waits for the decision on our destination by flapping her wings in the direction of the two ogglers. Unfortunately all this seems to do is make her shift ripple and cause their eyes to jump even further out of their sockets.
She sighs and with a small jump takes to the air to wheel around the gathering and follow them as they depart for their destination.
The group decides to return to the Silver Rose. Returning quickly through the Lady's Ward, they manage to get back to Copper Court with minimal delay. Renakr and Hanali are at the offices, and they usher everyone into the main exercise room.
"So our Gatehouse team returns! What did you all find out amongst the Bleak Cabal?"
Justin smirks a little at the two godsmen's reactions to the LAdy Bethany's wing waving. Not that he blamed them in the slightest. He waves farewell politely as the group trudges off and returns to the Silver Rose.
"So our Gatehouse team returns! What did you all find out amongst the Bleak Cabal?"
Justin plops his lanky form wearily into a chair. "We stepped in something. And I think it stinks." He replies, then looks around and manages an almost contrite look.
"Sorry, don't know the protocols yet." HE mumbles, raising his hand to indicate Karrin.
"Naridre and Drazek report," Karrin orders, Justin was particularly verbose, Lady Bethany wasn't present for every exchange, but Naridre was beside Karrin for the entire expedition and Drazek had been strangely quiet, "Naridre, tell us about Derioch's deal, Drazek tell us about our discovery in the alley."
Karrin glances sharply over at Justin but nods when he wisely decides to censor himself. The man was confident . . . maybe too confident, but Karrin could hardly fault him for that.
Her voice is quiet but audible as she speaks. "We arrived at the Gatehouse without incident on the way. A Bleaker that Karrin and I know, by the name of Hlar, directed us to speak with Derioch in Records. We went there and Derioch made a show of going on break in order to speak with us outside in the orchard. Their faction is having trouble solving a mystery. 'Barmies' in the madhouse district and the Hive are being 'penned in the dead book.'" There is a flash of anger in her eyes as she says this, and her voice grows stronger for a moment, before fading back to its normal near-whisper. "Derioch agreed to help us find information about Elioch in exchange for our help finding out as much as we can about what is hunting people in the Hive."
Karrin smiles as Naridre reports, she seemed shy but she payed attention, and that was important in this line of work. Karrin turned expectantly to Drazek.
Upon seeing the other group return Merle rushes over and plucks Seph off Karrin's shoulder Mewling and meowing at him before taking him away to the kitchen
... After Action Report ...
Renkar nods
"It is usual to have a little back and forth for infomation. Excellent report Naridre."
Renkar steeples his fingers.
"Well, if we are advancing to a murder rather than a missing person, I should probably notify Mr. Ironfist tomorrow. I'm sure he'll want confirmation one way or another. If you want, you can meet with him in the Before Peak when I talk to him."
Drazek raises an eyebrow and c o c k s his head a Karrin's command. He stares at her silently until she blinks, taking a long swig from a flask in his jacket when she does. Chuckling to himself he turs to Renkar.
"Wasn't any magic 'cept what Justin there found on the corpse. No one on the roofs, and if there was a witness, he sure as hell hauled ass right quick. We're dealin' with sombody who works quick and clean, a pro."
Justin smirks, just a little, when he sees Drazek lock gazes with Karrin until she blinks. But he doesn't give the other cause to enter a staring contest with him either. He only nods at Drazek's brief report.
"There was a magic resonance still on the body when we found it. But no marks. It was difficult to ID, but I'd say it was either NEcromancy, or a Mind-affecting Enchantment. Which is odd, because normally those two types of magic are very easy to tell apart. Either way, I'd guess we're looking at a spell I've never seen in action. But I thought I heard the guy screaming about 'shadows' before we found him."
"He was screaming in terror. I believe that he did mention shadows," Naridre pipes up, then does her best to fade back into the background.
Drazek raises an eyebrow and c o c k s his head a Karrin's command. He stares at her silently until she blinks, taking a long swig from a flask in his jacket when she does. Chuckling to himself he turs to Renkar.
<Pssit>"Tell him about . . ."
"Oh, and also we might have gained the help of an Xaos gang leader, by the name of Mordrigaarz, he seems to want to catch this killer as well. His group of toughs showed up almost as soon as we found the body but we were able to convince them that we weren't worth fighting with! Anyways he seemed to warm up to us, but his gang didn't seem as impressed, so we might get support from him but I wouldn't trust any them any further then I could throw them."
"He was screaming in terror. I believe that he did mention shadows," Naridre pipes up, then does her best to fade back into the background.
Bethany didn't catch most of what went down in the Alley, but she attempts to be of some use. "I also clearly heard him call out the name of the Winged Lord. I think he mentioned some other names as well, but I have no idea who or what they are."
"Shadows, you say? Well, that would explain dying without a mark on him. So we have a few ideas: could be the shadows or a shadow fiend are preying on the barmies for... sustenance or something or just out of spite. They're perfect targets: only the Bleakers care about 'em, and they've got their hands full most of the time when they aren't going barmy themselves. The other possibility is some powerful wizard or cleric that could summon something to do the deed for them."
Isaac looks between Drazek and Justin, for confirmation or to shoot that theory down.
"Would that leave anything behind for you bloods to see? I still think our best lead may well be to work on Toranna, the Dustman in charge of what the Collectors take in. Bloody convenient that she'd have a quick answer for us like that, what with all the deaders coming in off the streets. And, you know, the more I think about it, the stranger it is. It's easy enough to stab a berk in the back: assuming it's not free-willed shades of some sort, why go to all the trouble of using all that magic? Especially on a large number of barmies. If you want my gut reaction, someone wants the bodies whole or they're trying to send a message to the Bleakers."
...
Renkar absorbs all this information
"Well it seems as if you have had a fruitful first day in the Hive. I would say you have earned some rest. I am going to arrange for Mr. Ironfist to come for a meeting next Peak, if any of you wish to speak with him. For now, get some rest, we can hit the Hive again tomorrow after we talk with our patron."
Renkar orders another ale
"I also clearly heard him call out the name of the Winged Lord. I think he mentioned some other names as well, but I have no idea who or what they are."
"Yes, He was saying several names. What were they? 'Drats!' or was it 'Grattz' maybe? I don't remember the others." Justin muses.
"Shadows, you say? Well, that would explain dying without a mark on him. So we have a few ideas: could be the shadows or a shadow fiend are preying on the barmies for... sustenance or something or just out of spite. They're perfect targets: only the Bleakers care about 'em, and they've got their hands full most of the time when they aren't going barmy themselves. The other possibility is some powerful wizard or cleric that could summon something to do the deed for them."
Isaac looks between Drazek and Justin, for confirmation or to shoot that theory down.
"Would that leave anything behind for you bloods to see? I still think our best lead may well be to work on Toranna, the Dustman in charge of what the Collectors take in. Bloody convenient that she'd have a quick answer for us like that, what with all the deaders coming in off the streets. And, you know, the more I think about it, the stranger it is. It's easy enough to stab a berk in the back: assuming it's not free-willed shades of some sort, why go to all the trouble of using all that magic? Especially on a large number of barmies. If you want my gut reaction, someone wants the bodies whole or they're trying to send a message to the Bleakers."
"Well, whatever it was did leave a signature. I just couldn't tell exactly what it was. Your Dustman lead seems like the best to me so far. It is odd that a dead guy pulled from an alley would be so easily and completely identified. As for the rest, even shades. shadows and specters leave marks when they attack. Not big gaping wounds like a sword, but marks that can be seen. This guy was untouched."
"Message to the Bleakers? FOr what purpose? From what I'm told the Bleakers don't have anything that anybody wants! Wait,... what did you say? 'Someone wants the bodies?'"
Justin strokes his stubbled face like he was smoothing out a goatee.
"OK. I don't like making up theories without facts, it makes it too easy to miss the real clues when you find them, but what if,... What if it IS the bodies that they were after? Knocking off crazy people who live in alleys is a good way to acquire several bodies quickly without raising too much notice or suspicion. Especially in the hive. They want the bodies intact, so they use a spell that kills but leaves the bodies intact. Just because I don't recognize the spell doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It just means I haven't come across it yet."
"So they send a killer-spell to knock off people not likely to be missed, but then why leave the body? Unless you KNOW the body will come to you anyway,... the deadheads? Your Dustman suspicion suddenly looks more promising." He says with a raised eyebrow at Issac.
"Well it seems as if you have had a fruitful first day in the Hive. I would say you have earned some rest. I am going to arrange for Mr. Ironfist to come for a meeting next Peak, if any of you wish to speak with him. For now, get some rest, we can hit the Hive again tomorrow after we talk with our patron."
Renkar orders another ale
Justin's stomach growls once more. "Right on cue." He mutters with a wry grin. He raises his hand to get the waitress' attention, and orders a large meal which he enjoys with gusto.
Once all the talking is finished Karrin looks for Ramona, "I'll have my usual," Karrin says, "you still want to go to this music hall Isaac? I got to eat but if you're not in a hurry I'd like to come with ya."
Naridre tentatively orders the special, not about to pass up the opportunity for a meal when it comes along. She eats with the concentration and speed of someone accustomed to missing meals.
"Oh, good work everyone," Karrin says as she waits for her food, "I thought we did a good job, sorry we didn't get the opertunity to put everyone through their paces, but anytime we come back unscathed and without making any enemies it's a good day and a good job. One of my mentors taught me that."
Merle walks back in carrying two plates of basic food for herself and Seph
Sitting down next to Naridre they both begin to tuck in. Some might notice that Seph has amazingly good table manners. (He would probably be using a knife and fork if he had the opposable thumbs)
Swift quietly watches Merle and Seph for a while with a tiny smile. Waiting for a while she lets Merle finish before speaking up in a small, quiet purr.
Feline:
Some chant.
"Well, mate, I wouldn't go thinking the Bleakers don't have anything someone wants. I heard a berk once say that genius and madness are two sides of the same coin; with enough barmies you're bound to have a few coves worth their salt. There could be all kinds of reasons or vendettas. If they've got a spot in the House of Speakers, they've got political clout, allies and enemies. Including the Godsmen. That's how power's divided: factions perform a service in Sigil, they get a voice in the Hall of Speakers to decide how to run things. Taking care of the dead and the barmy or policing the streets, running the courts; it's all the same. They do a job, their beliefs draw enough members, they have power. But you're right; Toranna is the most concrete lead we have right now."
Once all the talking is finished Karrin looks for Ramona, "I'll have my usual," Karrin says, "you still want to go to this music hall Isaac? I got to eat but if you're not in a hurry I'd like to come with ya."
"Aye, the more the merrier. My mates from the Foundry are already there, but I'll let them get started. Caritas is kind of a neutral ground for the factions in the Hive and the Lower Ward, so if we rattle our bone boxes a little while between sets we may just turn something up."
Isaac starts rolling himself another smoke, thinks better of it and slides the tobacco back into its pouch. He'll just have a beer while everyone's eating.
Bethany orders some more Rare Venison and Avariel Ambrosia.
"I would very much like to visit this Caritas after we are done eating. It sounds like an interesting place."
Ramona bustles over bearing food and drinks for the hungry crew. renkar chats idly with them as they eat, getting a bit of information on Hlar, Mordrigaarz, Toranna, and Derioch from them. After the meal he yawns and says his farewells.
"I am headed back to my house. If you find any information about the case at this Caritas place let me know tomorrow. I'll be at the Silver Rose right at the start of Before Peak. "
Naridre hangs back from the group heading to Caritas. She doesn't think that it sounds like much fun, or like anything she'd be particularly helpful at. Better to let the ones who were good at talking find the information. If no one else stays, or waylays her she will offer to help with chores at the Copper Cauldron. If they turn her down she will spend the evening meditating in her room.
Justin leans reluctantly back from the table. While he didn't put Karrin in any danger of losing her spot as the inn's best customer, he certainly ate more than any of the others, and obviously enjoyed it to boot. You get the impression it's been a while since he enjoyed a good,... large,... meal. He gives his thanks to the waitress, along with a wink, and pats his stomach.
"Sure, I'll go. Sounds like it should be, interesting. And I haven't had a chance to get out much since I arrived."
Merle seems to nod happily at something Swift said. she looks up briefly from her food
"I think I'll just stay here showing up with an entire mob probably isn't going to make people very talkative."
"Merle's right, I can stay here or I have several personal errands I could deal with whilst I wait for you guys" Swift adds in agreement to the other feline woman's words, a small smile on her lips as she starts thinking through things she could do.
Once Merle is finished up her meal she heads off into the kitchen again and begins trying to make her self useful in there.
Karrin finishes her meal, haply patting her stomach when she was finished, "That was a great meal Ramona," Karrin says, regardless of the actual taste.
"I'm ready to head out," Karrin says, then she blinks and asks, "This place have a no weapons policy or anything? Cuz if they do I'll leave my weapons here."
Drazek enjoys his meal silently an prepares to accompany the others. While not openly voicing his coming along he does want to observe his new teammates as much as possible.
"Eh, not as far as I know. The Alley of Dangerous Angles isn't in the Hive, but that doesn't mean it ain't dangerous, right? I'd at least keep a knife or a short sword handy. Caritas caters to fiends and other natives of the Outer Planes as much as factioners and regular berks like you 'n me. Can't very well take a tanar'ri's claws away or a baatezu's silver tongue can you?"
Isaac finishes his drink, stifles a burp.
"From your story, Karrin, it seems like you can make the call yourself whether you want to use that weapon or not, so it's up to you."
After a first-class meal the group heading to Caritas leaves. Heading out onto Copperman Way, they group sees the late Before Antipeak crowd heading off in every direction along the wide street.
Several leather-clad drow groups are about, and Githyanki also seem to be popular on the street as well. The yellow-skinned humanoids dress in silvery armor and loose-flowing silks, their sunken eyes filled with disain as they pick their way along the street.
Eventually Copperman Way enters the Lady's Ward, ending in Memorial Plaza with its statue commemorating the Great Plague. A small taproom named The Square Bar spills warm yellow light from a patially open door. From the look of the many red-armored cutters inside it is a Hardhead hangout.
The traffic splits and descends towards the many mansions that beign to line the streets as the Nobles' District embraces them. The wide clean street of Razorvine on Hiddleton leads them into the Court District. At this time of evening there isn't much going on but cutters walking to other venues and Hardhead patrols heading out to other wards from the City Barracks. Dabus float up and down building walls patching and cutting razorvine. Their queer visual language glyphs shine above their heads as they work, flashing in a bright-colored blur.
The Court District turns into the Temple District. Heading down Bloodgem Road the group sees some sort of evening service going on at Garl Glittergold's temple. A crowd of gnomes in costumes and masks sip drinks and chat on the temple steps while enthusiastic music leaks out from the open temple doorways.
Heading through Bloodgem Park, the group enters Swordhold. Here the crowds begin to swell, the many taverns and bawdy houses catering to the workers and mercenaries of the Lower Ward attracting crowds this evening. The group hurries on, getting a glimpse of several brawls and once what looks like a battle between a pair of beholders down a dark alleyway.
The many sulphurous smokestacks of the Great Foundry belch yellow smoke into the dark air, wrapping the blackened buildings nearby in a shroud of smog. There are no crowds of revelers here, only workers hauling carts of supplies between buildings. Instead of music there in a clang of hammer on anvil and the hiss of molten steel.
Exiting the Foundry District, the group heads down into the Gear Run District. The crowds return somewhat, with a lot of cutters: Gnomish, human and construct, many wearing leather aprons and sporting odd tools fastened to their bodies.
Along the end of Gear Street, the shops of arcane esoterica dwindle, being replaced by tenements of a distinctly mephitic air. Just before Gear Run turns into Hellgate, a small street called Pylean Court branches off Gear Street just as it turns into the Alley of Dangerous Angles.
On the corner of Pylean Court is a building housing several businesses. A stairwell leads downwards with a sign reading:
Caritas
"Ah, here we are, comrades. Don't look like much from out here, but it's a fine place all the same. Word of warning if you're new to Sigil, though: careful about heckling the "musical talent". Powers are the only thing not allowed entrance to the city and even a powerful archmage might very well be a poor amateur troubadour."
Isaac opens the door and heads on in.
'Why would anyone heckle the musical talent?' Karrin wonders to herself, 'that would just be rude.'
"I shall take your advice under advisement. Although if you've ever heard a 400 pound Derhii attempt to sing then you should be prepared for just about anything..."
She follows Isaac down the stairs with a sort of half jump and into the club. "Landlings and their stairs," she mutters to herself.
Isaac raises an eyebrow.
"Can't say I've ever heard a 400 pound Derhii try to sing. Nor have I ever seen (or been) a Derhii, much less a 400 pound one. What are they? Something from your homeland?"
The group descends the stairs and enters through the bar's open door. A bouncer with a few demons in his pedegree gives you the once over. He nods at Issac, recognizing him. The cutter's name is Polorus, not a bad basher for a tiefling with two heads. His secondary head is ophidian-looking with an elogated neck. His primary one ain't too pretty either. That one features ram horns, bat ears and a wolfish snout.
"Wotcher Issac, ain't seen yeh for a bit. Yer cronies are over there." Polorus says. The snake head regards the group unblinkingly
He points a clawed hand over towards the stage where Issac sees Hergik and Jak seated at a large table.
The bar is filled tonight, and the strains of some off key singing echo off the walls as a long-nosed elf in sorceror's robes attempts to sing a popular ballad, The Lower Ward Shuffle.
"Go awn in, plenty of seats, the real talent ain't been up yet," Polorus says with a pointy-toothed grin