Nari took a shaky breath. "I still have a decent amount of firepower left." she said in response to Justin's comments. "I..." she swallowed hard. "I'm not wanting another fight, but if we have a chance to stop these people before they come after us, or anyone else for that matter, again, then I'll do whatever you need me to."
She studied her feet intently, trying to calm her racing pulse. She so didn't want to go back out there right now. Maybe ever.
"Ah don't worry I've still got plenty of spells left." Merle speaks with a very slight tone of smugness in her voice "How you w-Ouch" Whatever she is about to say next is cut off by Seph cuffing her lightly on the back of her head. "Err anyway If all else fails I have a couple of wands and a scroll I could lend you"
Ramona beams"What would yeh like Karrin dear? We have apple, cherry, sugarberry, rosemelon and pecan pie tonight. Plus I think Ma got a cake down at the market if yeh'd like a slice, Opaline chocolotl with vanilla bean frosting I believe."
"Oh I can't decided," Karrin says, "You'd better bring me a piece of each."
Isaac listens quietly, chewing a nail in thought.
"We could always drop him in the Ditch. Kind of a jag, though; hard to pull off dragging a berk in a chair. A biggish patch of razorvine is another idea. We can always hip him somewheres, maybe send him to Ribcage for real..."
"Not sure striking tonight is wise. Time for catching the Chant is getting close to finished and the Rule of Three dictates that if we've had two ambushes, we'll have a third. Let's make sure we're the ones settin' it up. If we go after this Shadowknave, we better hit 'im hard and fast and sort out the Darks afterward. And that means everyone at full strength and everyone at 'im, including our lovebirds over there." He gestures toward the Copper Cauldron.
"It's a trig plan if ever there was, though, not puttin' it down. Just want to be mindful we don't get into more'n we can handle for one day."
Justin raises an eyebrow at Merle's tone, and smirks ever so slightly as her familiar/brother whacks her on the back of the head. But he only smiles amiably as he responds, "Thanks, but you better hold onto 'em. As I said, a wizard is never exactly helpless." He says lightly, conjuring another tiny ball of flame and nimbly passing it from finger to finger like a con man with a coin. Catching it and snuffing it he frowns seriously at Isaac.
"I agree, mostly. But what we have here is Toranna expecting, or at least hoping, to get a delivery tonight from a thug. A delivery from whom she no doubts hope to extract exactly what we actually know, and what we're still guessing on. Waiting, and hoping that no one notices that this thug is missing, or worse, any other survivors telling her that he was taken and the capture failed, blows our only chance. And if she's expecting a prisoner, she shouldn't be waiting at the gate with 30 armed guards. I don't expect her to be alone, but it shouldn't be anything we can't handle."
Justin looks to the others, but talks to Isaac. "I think that, right this moment, this is our best bet to find out what's going on. I say we take it. Quickly, before someone, somehow, gets word to Toranna and blows it."
Justin looks around at the group with a devious grin on his face. "And I think I know just who should be our 'prisoner'." He grins with a look at Nardire. At her expected response, Justin places a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"There's a couple of good reasons for my suggestion. One, no offense dear, but judging by looks alone, you'd be voted 'most likely to be captured' by any street thug. And you're far more believable than say, Karrin. Two, unless I'm mistaken, your powers require concentration, but not gestures like mine or Merle's. Even if they tie your hands, you'll still be able to fight. Third, I'LL be the one to carry you in, and the others will be right outside. We won't let anything happen to you."
"So whatt'ya say, do we go get the the others and do this?" He asks,...
Justin looks around at the group with a devious grin on his face. "And I think I know just who should be our 'prisoner'." He grins with a look at Nardire. At her expected response, Justin places a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"There's a couple of good reasons for my suggestion. One, no offense dear, but judging by looks alone, you'd be voted 'most likely to be captured' by any street thug. And you're far more believable than say, Karrin. Two, unless I'm mistaken, your powers require concentration, but not gestures like mine or Merle's. Even if they tie your hands, you'll still be able to fight. Third, I'LL be the one to carry you in, and the others will be right outside. We won't let anything happen to you."
"You're right," she says reluctantly. "I do look like the weakest one of us. I don't look like a mercenary at all really. And my powers don't require gestures or words to manifest. And even if I was tied up, it would only take a matter of seconds to animate the rope and get free." She shuddered a little as she tried to overcome her fear. "Okay. I trust you. And if this is what we're going to do, then I'm in."
"Uh no offence but I'm not that sure that Narie is such a good choice. There is a good chance that things will go violent which means a good chance of you having to use lethal force again. It might be better if I do it"
"Uh no offence but I'm not that sure that Narie is such a good choice. There is a good chance that things will go violent which means a good chance of you having to use lethal force again. It might be better if I do it"
Nari paled. Her lip trembled a little as she felt torn between her fear and guilt and wanting to help her friends.
"I can do it," she said doubtfully.
"Actually he said he was to capture at least one of us so we could both pretend to have been grabbed."
...
"I agree, mostly. But what we have here is Toranna expecting, or at least hoping, to get a delivery tonight from a thug. A delivery from whom she no doubts hope to extract exactly what we actually know, and what we're still guessing on. Waiting, and hoping that no one notices that this thug is missing, or worse, any other survivors telling her that he was taken and the capture failed, blows our only chance. And if she's expecting a prisoner, she shouldn't be waiting at the gate with 30 armed guards. I don't expect her to be alone, but it shouldn't be anything we can't handle."Justin looks to the others, but talks to Isaac. "I think that, right this moment, this is our best bet to find out what's going on. I say we take it. Quickly, before someone, somehow, gets word to Toranna and blows it."
Renkar nods
"I think Ser Justin has the dark of the chant. Even if Ser .."
Renkar looks over at the thug
"Meldric. Me name's Meldric." The thug says sullenly
Renkar continues
"Even if Ser Meldric doesn't come with you, the fact that you have the prisoners should be enough, if you explain he was penned in the dead book. "
Renkar looks at Meldric
"How well did Toranna know your associates?"
Meldric frowns
"Not at all. I never took any of those cutters to the Mausoleum before. I usually worked with Shadowknave, but we had to split forces to get both groups that were nosing about an' I had to hire muscle, I weren't lying about that bit. If you shows Toranna my sigul, she'll most likely be taken in. "
Meldric looks over at Issac
"I ken you needs to keep me scragged for a bit 'till you do wotever. Just do me a favor and don't give me to the Hardheads or hip me somewhere nasty. I played mimir for yeh, yeh gots the straight chant. I'll scarper off to the Outlands meself for a good long stretch. If the Shadowknave gets a hold of me I'm penned for sure. I gots a cousin wot lives in Faunel, I'll cool me boots out there for a cycle or so. Believe me, I don't wants Shadowknave catching a skeg o'me any time soon. Long as they thinks I'm already penned by you lot I gots a chance to give them the laugh."
Justin nods to the boss, grateful for his confidence. Then turns to Merle, chewing on his lower lip.
"Again,... I agree,... mostly. But consider this, we totally annihilated the group that came after us, and it was only your self-restraint that prevented you from doing the same to your attackers. I think Toranna will find it easier to believe that these guys managed to drag off one prisoner during the battle, no matter the outcome, than for me to drag in two prisoners. Besides, if it does go bad, I'd prefer to have a caster outside blasting their way in, than trying to stay alive in close combat." He furrows his brows in thought, then smirks.
"Although if Drazek was with me,... that would be believable too,..."
Justin smiles at the small, obviously frightened but desperately brave elf girl.
"It's ok, if everything goes like i'm thinking, you won't have to lift a finger. Even a psychic one." He grins.
Justin walks over to their 'guest' and lays a friendly hand on the gentleman's shoulder.
"Tell you what we're gonna do," He says with a lighthearted smile.
"We're about to go out, it's late, and I don't want the boss to stay up worrying about us by himself. So you're gonna keep him company for me. When we come back, we'll have another chat. If everything is just like you told us, then you can go and hide out with your cousin, or in Timbuktoo, or in Baator for all I care. As long as I never see you again. In return we'll do as you ask and I'll tell them you got skragged during the fight. Just remember. I'm a big fan of giving people a second chance. But I've never met a man I thought deserved a third one." He says, never losing the happy tone to his voice. He leans over and swiftly plucks the man's badge of membership from his shirt, and gives him another friendly clap on the shoulder. With a just a slight amount of pressure for emphasis.
Isaac shrugs.
"Ah, I ain't no Mercykiller, berk. We weren't gonna do nothin' to yah. You just stay outta town and don't take any more jobs from cold-blooded spivs 'n that's enough for me."
"If ye're gonna pull this off Justin, you better dust the Prime off your tongue and start throwing some cant around. Yer proper grammar 'n diction's gonna confustigate the whole disguise. And we better figger out a signal for when the chant's done and we need to bust some boneboxes."
"Oh I can't decided," Karrin says, "You'd better bring me a piece of each."
Ramona brings over a selection of pie slices from the heating rack by the inn's huge hearth. She also brings out a slice of chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. Mercutio, who had been happily snoring up in the rafters, comes swooping down to get a closer look at the treats
"Pie pie, Mercutio loves pie!"
Ramona brings over a selection of pie slices from the heating rack by the inn's huge hearth. She also brings out a slice of chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. Mercutio, who had been happily snoring up in the rafters, comes swooping down to get a closer look at the treats"Pie pie, Mercutio loves pie!"
Karrin slides over the slice of apple pie Mercutio's way, before chomping into the cherry pie.
"Yha Mhe moo" Karrin says (with bits of cherry pie sprinkling over the table).
Mercutio makes quick work of the apple pie, bits of crust and apple flying around his snout. He comes up for air, belches and flys up to the rafters again
"Thanks friend-friend Karrin!"
"Although if Drazek was with me,... that would be believable too,..."
"Although if Drazek was with me,... that would be believable too,..."
...Just remember. I'm a big fan of giving people a second chance. But I've never met a man I thought deserved a third one." He says, never losing the happy tone to his voice. He leans over and swiftly plucks the man's badge of membership from his shirt, and gives him another friendly clap on the shoulder. With a just a slight amount of pressure for emphasis.
Meldric groans as Justin's squeeze aggrivates his sucking chest wound
"Never you fear cutter, there ain't no going back fer me once I barked on Shadowknave. He's a scary blood, and he knows more than parlor sparkle."
Isaac stretches his arms out over his head, winces as some of the wounds from earlier start acting up.
"Well, we'd all better take heel if we're going to pull this tonight. I'll go and get everyone at the Cauldron so's we're all lanned to the chant and have our places. Just hope we ain't pushin' it."
He heads for the door and across the street to the Copper Cauldron.
With a satisfied sigh Karrin pushes the last plate away. The plate was spotless, the icing licked clean, Karrin's face on the other hand was another matter. Karrin leaned back in her chair, enjoying the sensation of having a bully full of food, but the day's events still tumbled through her mind. Why had Merle gotten upset with her? Why had Nari been so quiet?
Karrin knew that she had messed up, she'd allowed those thugs to get past her to attack her team mates, but Karrin had managed to take out the leader, which, tactically speaking, was an amazing strategic advantage. Karrin had been upset to see Nari hurt. Karrin had wanted to scare those goons off, she hadn't wanted the fight in the first place, but they had been set on fighting and there was very little more Karrin could have done to stop them.
The strange part of it was that Nari had been more upset about the wounds the goon that had attacked had received. Karrin hadn't seen what had happened but the thug looked as though he'd been stabbed. Perhaps one of his companions had shanked him by accident? Nari and Merle certainly didn't use knives . . .
Suddenly things fell into place. Nari had used her powers. It was likely the elf's first kill. Karrin frowned. Everything had happened so fast . . . Karrin would need to have a talk with her companions after they made their reports. Taking a life wasn't an easy thing, especially that first time, but Karrin had ended dozens of lives and lately much of her work had been clean. Her kills had been quick and (likely) painless. They'd been bloody and gory for sure, there was no getting around that, but her opponents hadn't suffered and most of the time their heads weren't anywhere near Karrin for her to stare into their cold dead eyes.
Killing never got easy but that first one was always bad.
Isaac stretches his arms out over his head, winces as some of the wounds from earlier start acting up.
"Well, we'd all better take heel if we're going to pull this tonight. I'll go and get everyone at the Cauldron so's we're all lanned to the chant and have our places. Just hope we ain't pushin' it."
He heads for the door and across the street to the Copper Cauldron.
Renkar nods
"I will sit with Ser Meldric for now. You cutters get your plan together and come talk with me once you've finalized them so I have the straight chant. It's gettting late, and we don't want anyone else to beat us to the Mausoleum by delaying. "
While Karrin cleans the last of her plates, Ramona walks up to her.
"Karrin, while you were eating a courier came with a package for Merle. I took it for her, do you know where she's at?"
While Karrin cleans the last of her plates, Ramona walks up to her.
"Karrin, while you were eating a courier came with a package for Merle. I took it for her, do you know where she's at?"
"I think she's over at the Silver Rose," Karrin says, "I can give it to her."
Karrin quickly licks her fingers clean before handling the package.
Isaac walks back into the Cauldron, takes a look around and walks to Karrin's table.
"Oi, Karrin, your new mate's given us some Darks and we've got a promisin' idea on how to crack this mess. We're meetin' in the Rose to get our plan straight, I'm gonna get Drazek and Bethany..."
He mounts the stairs and heads for the attic hatch , deliberating for a moment before banging at it with the butt of his spear.
"OI, CUTTERS! MIGHT WANT TO FINISH DISTURBIN' EVERY BERK ON COPPERMAN WAY AN' RUN ACROSS THE STREET! WE GOT WORK TO DO!"
Karrin quickly licks her fingers clean before handling the package.
Ramona hands her a large oilskin package about two feet by one. It is secured with hemp twine and a large red wax blot with a stylized cat claw with an arrow superimposed.
"Thankee sai Karrin."
At this point Issac arrives and delivers his news.
,
Issac thumps on Bethany's door with his spear, rattling the brass knob with the force of his blows.
,
Issac thumps on Bethany's door with his spear, rattling the brass knob with the force of his blows.
"I'm gonna get Drazek and Bethany..."
He mounts the stairs and heads for the attic door, deliberating for a moment before banging at it with the butt of his spear.
"OI, CUTTERS! MIGHT WANT TO FINISH DISTURBIN' EVERY BERK ON COPPERMAN WAY AN' RUN ACROSS THE STREET! WE GOT WORK TO DO!"
Inside, Bethany starts and rolls Drazek off her, jumping to her clawed feet and hopping across the room, wings flapping angrily. She yanks open the door, not caring about her nudity and gives Isaac a glare that would melt steel.
"What in the name of the Winged Lord is going on? What is so important that you'd dare interrupt me during mating?" Her face takes on a more predatory look, making Isaac feel like he was the dessert in a Harpy Banquet. "Unless of course you've come to join me..." She trails off, the corners of her mouth curling up into an unnerving smile, as she moves aside and motions towards the bed where Drazek is regaining his feet after being unceremoniously dumped over the edge by the unpredictable Harpy.
Isaac stares for a second, shakes his head.
"No thanks, Bethany. Not that I don't tumble to gettin' close with you both, just don't twig to gettin' THAT close. Karrin, Merle and Naridre took down some bashers in the Hive and brought us a gully. He's spilled that Toranna's waitin' for our heads tonight and we reckon it's time to turn the tables. Sooner we get everyone twigged to the Dark of it, sooner we can catch some conies of our own, right? We're all meetin' at the Rose whenever yer both dressed."
He nods, turns to go.
Drazek looks at Isaac. For a moment the shadows around him swirl violently and his eyes go completely black. Then he taked a deep breath and does something completely unexpected he begins to laugh.
"I think ya scared 'im doll. Not that ya aint a sight to make most men quiver in all yer glory.
Tell Renkar we'll be right there, and every damn God in Sigil help the bastard we go after tonight"
Isaac chuckles with a crooked smirk on his face.
"Oh, aye, watch me shiver, mate."
He adds:
"And lucky fer us there ain't a single Power in Sigil, one way or another."
Justin nods at Isaac's words, and settles in for what looks like a serious think as the ranger hurries off to round up the rest of the gang.
"Crows, He's right. I don't speak the local chant worth a cracked egg. I'd shift HIM into a new form so he could do the talking, but the spell's only castable on myself." He muses for a moment, then grins like a kid.
"Ok, so I make like a big bruiser and play dumb. One word answers. Single syllables. That should be an interesting mental exercise at the very least." He smiles happily.
"What we need is a way to turn others invisible, even if briefly, so they can sneak in with us and already be inside. Maybe Isaac can hide once inside, or maybe Drazek can make himself into a shadow. We'll have to ask,... Let me check my bag of tricks, I haven't been through it in so long I'm not sure what I have anymore,..."
Justin continues to talk to himself as he begins to rummage through his well-worn backpack. "What we need to figure out in advance is how to find out what they're up to once inside. Why are the would-be dead people turning back up with new names and assigned to new factions?" He muses, then looks slowly up as Renkar's stare hits him like a physical blow.
"Oh, sorry. We must have forgotten to mention that, what with all the excitement,..." He says with a thumb indicating their 'guest', grinning like a kid who knows he just got in trouble, but is hoping that being adorable will get him out of it. Clearing his throat, he gets up and walks out of earshot of the thug in the chair, and hastily catches Renkar and the others on the previously-dead red-headed man and his miraculous recovery and joining a new faction.
"Wait, so this is a whole conspiracy they have going on? It isn't just Eliath? But then why barmies? And how is she talking them into this? You weren't able to determine for sure if the redheaded man knew who he was or not? Because Eliath knows exactly who he is. He's trying to get at a gate located inside the Doomguard's headquarters, or at least that was Karrin's theory and he didn't contradict it. I believe that's why he acted crazy, so he could get caught up in this scheme. But it's really a terrible idea. He's not a very good actor. All I had to do was smile and act stupid and he completely forgot the part he was supposed to be playing. He even gave me reading recommendations about the history of Sigil even though he was supposed to be as clueless as I am."
At the mention of going after Toranna, Bethany's eyes narrow and her smile becomes a sneer. "Ahhh then I will be down presently then. That b i t c h won't know what hit her."
She shuts the doors and turns back to Drazek. "Looks like the fun's over cutie... for tonight at least." She gives him a predatory smile that promises more encounters of this kind to come.
She quickly gets dressed and slings her quiver and pack over her shoulders. She sings a few arcane syllables and with a small gust of wind, both herself and Drazek are loking fresh and presentable, although she has a healthy glow about her cheeks and shoulders.
She ushers Drazek out of the room, locking the door behind him and exits trough the window, alighting in front of the Silver Rose and quickly hurrying inside to prepare for their nightly assault.
Drazek heads to his room, a grin still on his face as he dresses and gathers up his gear. Heading out the window he walkd along th wall to the roof, running across the rooftops to the Silver Rose HQ.
'Ah tonight was good,....excellent actually, but cut short. Somebody was gonna die for that.'the thought brought a much more frightening grin to his face.
The rain seems to be lessening finally, as the Cage Fog replaces it. The Cauldron's common room is emptying of patrons, as the workers and merchants all head home to get a bit of shuteye. Herbert, Bess' brother appears and readies to take over the evening shift
"Of course, that makes sense. Actually." Justin looks surprised. He grins at the slight elf girl.
"Very good!" He says with a wink.
"They,... whoever 'they' are, are recruiting barmies they can talk or enspell into working for them, because nobody misses a barmy. Then they set them up to get into a Faction with a fast track to promotion. All so they can find out what gates, or possibly a certain gate, said factions have under lock and key. Eliath may have figured it out, and played along to get involved because he is ALSO looking for a gate. And he decided to use their resources to work for him. Very clever, if so." Justin muses.
"Of course, that makes sense. Actually." Justin looks surprised. He grins at the slight elf girl.
"Very good!" He says with a wink.
Nari blushes at the compliment. Praise wasn't something she heard often. She rather liked it.
"One thing to consider: the Mortuary's Dustmen headquarters. If we're goin' to scrag Toranna, we need to be quick as a chiv and quiet enough that the darkman won't suspect a thing. Last thing we need is a whole bloody faction down our throats."
Karrin's tongue sneaks out of her mouth to search for whatever food might remain on Karrin's face. The tiefling grabs her axe and Merle's package and heads over to the Rose.
"Package for you Merle," Karrin says as she climbs the stairs to the practice room.
"A package for me?" Merle says sounding genuinely surprised. She quickly looks for a label before opening the package up.
"So what's the play for takin' 'em down?"
"A package for me?" Merle says sounding genuinely surprised. She quickly looks for a label before opening the package up.
The package is oilskin tied in twine with a large red wax seal with hte sigul of a stylized cat claw and arrow. Merle recognizes it as Skrint's. Merle's name and the Copper Cauldron's address is written on it along with a smaller black wax seal with a helmet and bell sigul stamped in it.
Seeing who its from Merle begins to eagerly tear the package opening.
Seeing who its from Merle begins to eagerly tear the package opening.
Merle tears through the package. Inside the oilskin wrappings is a magnificent pair of boots, tooled soft leather with traditional catfolk motifs and semiprecious beads along the seams. They seem to be Merle's size. . Tucked in one boot as a note:
Dear Merle. I must leave Sigil for Kirgala unexpectedly. I had hoped to give you these in person, but such was not to be. I have a cobbler in the Forest District that owed me a favor, and I figured with you beginning your adventuring career you would need a sturdy pair of boots. Hopefully, I can return to Sigil and see you soon.
With tenderest regards,
Skrint.
"One thing to consider: the Mortuary's Dustmen headquarters. If we're goin' to scrag Toranna, we need to be quick as a chiv and quiet enough that the darkman won't suspect a thing. Last thing we need is a whole bloody faction down our throats."
"Yeah, and that's the trick I suspect." Justin responds absently,... possibly envisioning an entire Faction looking for a human in a black leather coat,... He shakes his head and slaps his legs.
"OK, so we need to determine our ultimate goal. Ideally we want to find out;
1) How are they 'killing' (if they are) these Barmies,
2) How are they 'bringing them back',
3) Why barmies instead of using their own people?
4) And what is it they are looking for? Hidden gates in general? Or one Gate in particular?"
Justin rubs his chin, his 'after-peak shadow' making his previously trimmed goatee look a little shabby.
"I guess what we need to determine is are we going in hoping to sneak/steal/'convince' some answers out of Torranna? Or are we going in with intent to shut this operation down? Completely." JUstin looks at Isaac and Renkar.
"Look, my whole grasp of this insane asylum is still a little shaky, But isn't there some sort of unbreakable rule about factions not messing with each other? I'm not talking about brawling in the streets over ideological differences, but actually interfering directly in other factions operations, isn't that a no-no?" He looks again from Isaac to Renkar and back, then shrugs his shoulders. "Maybe this whole convoluted scheme is just to bypass some rule, getting the barmies to infiltrate other Factions for them is ok, because they died and they aren't 'officially' linked to any faction anymore? Does dying erase your membership in a faction?" He looks a little confused, as he starts trying to judge the ramifications of what he's saying,...
"Oh,... Dinosaur Shards and Dragonshells,... PLEASE tell me that we're not going up against someone stoopid enough to try to pull a scam on 'The Lady'?!?!?" HE asks hoarsely, eyes going wide in disbelief.
Seeing who its from Merle begins to eagerly tear the package opening.Merle tears through the package. Inside the oilskin wrappings is a magnificent pair of boots, tooled soft leather with traditional catfolk motifs and semiprecious beads along the seams. They seem to be Merle's size. . Tucked in one boot as a note:
Dear Merle. I must leave Sigil for Kirgala unexpectedly. I had hoped to give you these in person, but such was not to be. I have a cobbler in the Forest District that owed me a favor, and I figured with you beginning your adventuring career you would need a sturdy pair of boots. Hopefully, I can return to Sigil and see you soon.
With tenderest regards,
Skrint.
Merle's face goes from surprise to sorrow to joy as she sees the gift and reads the letter just barely stoping herself from letting out a whoop of joy "Erm excuse me for a moment" Before quickly heading into a side room to put the boots on.
"So what's up?" Karrin asks, "we gonna go mash some folks?"