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To DM and Akorian:
"That's a good idea," Waifrin grimaces, "as we cleverly didn't bring anything to disguise you, and Zara's with the other group. We may even find the dusk market ... I used to know that area and the Pleatra quite well."
She catches Arael's look.
"Ancient history," she shrugs, and spurs her hoarse forwards.
For DM:
"Perhaps we need to educate the commoners, then," Waifrin replies, "or perhaps they are cleverer than you think. After all, a commoner's education is all I received, so clearly I'm unfit for any role of leadership in your view. Perhaps I shouldn't even be trusted with making any decisions for myself - even those concerning me!" Waifrin snaps angrily, her voice rich with sarcasm.
"People aren't slaves, Akorian - they have a right to make the decisions about their own lives, even if they are affairs of state. I agree that mob rule is bad, but it's the common people who bear the consequences of the decisions rulers make; they have a right to some kind of ... I don't know, representation? A voice? A veto?"
Akorian frowns at Waifrin's seemingly constant need for debate. Already weary and tired from their battle and eager to return to Westcrown, he sighs as he contemplates his next words to her, hoping they'll put the matter to rest until they get Arael to safety.
"Waifrin," he replies, "As I told you earlier, you are not a slave. You are a daughter of the Goddons. And though your education may have included many years on the streets...or as a slave...your family name and noble birth can still open doors for you. Particularly from those who would offer such opportunities in memory of your parents' sacrifice."
Clearly, the priest means himself. "You and your cousin, Marius, are welcome at the Henderthane estate here in Westcrown at any time. And you may avail yourself of our tutors if you wish. As for your interest in political affairs and the governing of Cheliax, I admire your passion. But perhaps you might think differently once you study your family history. To effectively make the changes you suggest, you and the average commoner will need to expand your knowledge to succeed. And somehow I doubt House Thrune would allow that to happen, as it isn't in their best interests...or what they deem to be the best interests of Cheliax."
Arael nods in reply to Akorian's question. "Yes, this is the way. The others will have no trouble at the gate, but they will be watching for me. I think I must hazard Parego Dospera tonight and try to slip over the wall. At least the shadow beasts will not be out in the daytime, and there's a safe place near the inner wall where we can rest until dark."
"Perhaps the shadowbeasts aren't there now," Akorian acknowledges, "But there are dangers present nonetheless. And, if we rest until dark, we may encounter the shadowbeasts even after we reach Westcrown's streets after curfew."
Akorian and Waifrin: [spoiler] Arael smiles and winks at Waifrin as he replies to Henderthane, "I have it on good authority any number of common smugglersuse the route I plan on tonight."
He leads you to what was once the northernmost city gate. Just outside the gate are a number of buildings along the river's edge. At a dyers shop Arael has Akorian arrange for the horses to be delivered back to Gorvio's uncle by a contact there. "Dospera is no place for horses."
The archway above the gate has collapsed. Some of the stones block the gates from closing. Arael shakes his head as you pass through. The footing is treacherous. Over the years, many of the cobbles have worked loose and debris of all sorts, tiling, treebranches, rags, broken-down carts, fills the streets. Some streets are dead and grey. On other avenues ivy, brambles, and trees grow over, and in some cases through, the houses and shops. Some buildings are crumbling; others have clearly burned.
You work your way through this urban wasteland until Arael pushes open the door of a non-descript cottage. "Home for now, " he smiles. The ground floor of the house is bare, but the attic room has a rug and a low couch. Dim light filters through smoked glass windows.
Arael sits down on the rug and gestures for you to make yourself comfortable. "There should be water and some bread in that cabinet. Now, what news have you for me?"
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At the questioning of the horsemonger, Zarabeta bats her eyes and does her best 'exotic beauty' routing, stepping up her accent to sound confused by his fast words, "We could not lead them all back ourselves, oh master of horses, and the others return as we speak. We simply returned faster than the others due to the superior quality of these two fine steeds. You are to be commended for the care you afford your charges."
She pours it on too thick, apparently...
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Akorian and Waifrin:"I have it on good authority any number of common smugglersuse the route I plan on tonight."
Waifrin grins at Arael's comment.
"I'll take you up on that offer, Akorian - but I still maintain, there are better commoners that could benefit from it than I. Whatever we want for tomorrow, though, we all face the same task today - and I'm not ungrateful for your help," she adds.
Waifrin walks through the ruins with some familiarity, and clearly vigilant to the dangers there. When they arrive at the safe-house, she lays down her cloak and pack, and tries to get some sleep.
For DM and Waifrin (and anyone else who wants to read along):
"I'll take you up on that offer, Akorian - but I still maintain, there are better commoners that could benefit from it than I. Whatever we want for tomorrow, though, we all face the same task today - and I'm not ungrateful for your help," she adds.
Akorian nods and continues following Arael. "I don't begrudge the notion that there are commoners out there who could benefit from such education, my dear. But I don't have the means...or the time...to educate them all so they can elevate their station in life. Also, none of them have the legacy of a noble name or family attached to them. You do. That makes you a bit more important as a so-called 'commoner' at the moment. And maybe later, once you've reacclimated to the kind of life your parents once provided you, then you'll have the tools, resources, and education to pursue whatever lofty notions you have of democratizing all of Cheliax."
Though the priest says these words, his tone still indicates he holds little hope for Waifrin succeeding at such a goal. But there's also a hint of...challenge?...to how he regards her when he talks, almost as if he hopes his position spurs her on.
Arael smiles and winks at Waifrin as he replies to Henderthane, "I have it on good authority any number of common smugglers use the route I plan on tonight."
Waifrin grins at Arael's comment.
"Lovely," Akorian notes Waifrin's enthusiastic support for Arael's verbal barb, "I'm sure these common smugglers will all have our best interests at heart."
Arael leads you to what was once the northernmost city gate. Just outside the gate are a number of buildings along the river's edge. At a dyer's shop Arael has Akorian arrange for the horses to be delivered back to Gorvio's uncle by a contact there. "Dospera is no place for horses."
"Gorvio's uncle should be pleased to get these back. Hopefully, the others have returned their horses as well," Akorian states, "My only fear is the Hellknights might trace them back to us. But I suppose the animals are anonymous enough. And there should be plenty of horsedealers in Westcrown to mask his uncle's involvement."
The priest sighs and looks sidelong at Arael. "The things we go through to rescue one such as you," he jokingly chides the half-elf. It also occurs to Akorian that such a statement seems like something Raven would say if he were with them.
...Arael pushes open the door of a non-descript cottage. "Home for now," he smiles....Arael sits down on the rug and gestures for you to make yourself comfortable.
Akorian looks around at the surroundings. Inwardly, some part of him winces at the conditions. Slinking about as a rebel-rouser for Milani's cause certainly seems to land the nobleman in places he never thought he'd go...sewers, flophouses, ruined cottages in Dospera...what new trials might await down the road?
Waifrin...lays down her cloak and pack, and tries to get some sleep.
Ever the gentleman, Akorian finds a blanket...either from the cottage or his own pack...to place over Waifrin while she rests. Then, he rejoins Arael.
"There should be water and some bread in that cabinet. Now, what news have you for me?"
"Not a lot to tell," Akorian offers as he rummages through the cabinet. Returning, he tosses a piece of bread to the half-elf and passes him a cup. "But it does seem a follower of Milani has once again aided an idealist of Iomedae. I have to say, I rather enjoyed riding to your rescue. But I also told you and Janiven it would come to this. It's one thing to talk about the city's woes to Westcrown's commoners and merchants...quite another to actually try and solve such problems when you know the Hellknights will view it as seditious behavior."
"Janiven was doing her usual thing...more talking," he explains, "Trying to recruit people to your cause. And then a runner came and warned us the Hellknights had arrested you. They followed him to the tavern and that led them straight to Janiven...and us. Luckily, she had a secret tunnel out of there...through the sewers. Lots of fun down there, you can imagine. A group of armigers followed us down and we had to fight them off. Thankfully, these new recruits Janiven gathered know how to handle themselves a lot better than most. After defeating the armigers, Raven and I took them captive and escorted them back to one of the sewer exits. And we managed to make it to the safehouse after that."
"From there," he goes on, "We found out they were moving you to Citadel Rivad. So we planned a rescue. Turns out the same armigers we met in the sewers were part of your escort, including that Giobanni character in the coach with you. The raid went off really well. I think we only killed one of the Hellknights, a priest or someone riding on the rooftop. The man torched one of his own armigers to try and burn the lot of us with some kind of spell. Waifrin there...she...well, she's got some kind of power...and she took him out. The remaining armigers we saved or drove off. And the rest, you already know."
Akorian pauses and rubs his eyes, feeling weary himself and envying the ease with which Waifrin has managed to find sleep. He takes a long sip of water and then a bite of bread.
"So...what now, fearless leader?" he asks Arael, "Has Iomedae revealed her will to you in these matters? I know Milani's heart. The Everbloom would have us take matters into our own hands if the government cannot provide for the safety of its own people. Hell, the government itself threatens the safety of its own people. We need to start opening everyone's eyes to that fact, if you ask me. All this talking and recruiting hasn't gotten us very far. Eventually, we need to start acting if we want to invoke some kind of change for Westcrown. And these folks that helped rescue you...well, they've got the kind of mettle to make a difference, if you ask me."
Marius and Zara:
Without a better plan you head back to the safe house to see if the others turn up. Tarvi, the dizzy brunette, Sclavo, the city scribe, and Morosino, errand-boy extraordinaire, are there. "Well, is everyone safe?" Tarvi asks.
***
After an hour or two, you are joined by Mother and Raven.
Mother and Raven:
At the stables: Gorvio's uncle Theodo strokes his goatee and looks stern, "I hope so. There's rumors of bandits on the road west of here and the dottari are nearly frantic about something. Did you hear anything on your ride?
***
After quitting the stables you head back to the safe-house, where you find Marius, Zara , Tarvi, the dizzy brunette, Sclavo, the city scribe, and Morosino, errand-boy extraordinaire.
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Marius shrugs...though that hides his disquiet.."I've no doubt that the gentleman in question will be along presently..or will arrange to have the horses returned"
He turns to Zarabeta and invites her to dine with him at the 'Six Gold Coins'
"Come, you can tell me more of the mysterious east." he quips..winking at the Quadiran woman...
Marius and Zara: So it's straight to dinner from the stables and not back to the safe house first?
Mother and Raven: You will not find Zara and Marius at the safe house, if you go there. (retcon my last post)
Mother stamps her foot in frustration. "Consarn it! Whose cockamamie idea is it to split up all the time?" She sighs, then asks: "Do you reckon we ought to go out and look for them?"
"Perhaps we should give them a little more time before we seek them out," Raven offers. "I am sure Marius and Zarabeta are fine. Although, if it takes them too long to get here, I might start getting somewhat worried about Akorian and Waifrin. They are the ones accompanying Arael after all."
The elf sighs softly as he moves to the closest window and looks outside. "Not too much time mind you," he adds in the end with a hint of a smile.
"So...what now, fearless leader?" he asks Arael, "Has Iomedae revealed her will to you in these matters? I know Milani's heart. The Everbloom would have us take matters into our own hands if the government cannot provide for the safety of its own people. Hell, the government itself threatens the safety of its own people. We need to start opening everyone's eyes to that fact, if you ask me. All this talking and recruiting hasn't gotten us very far. Eventually, we need to start acting if we want to invoke some kind of change for Westcrown. And these folks that helped rescue you...well, they've got the kind of mettle to make a difference, if you ask me."
"You'll see what's next tonight. I am glad your new comrades in arms are -- effective, for more reasons than my own safety. The masks are a good idea. They are also a badge of sorts. It will make us recognizable as a group, but disguise our identity."
"As for Iomedae's will ... I think I am on the right track. You are lucky indeed to know Milani's heart. And now a nap before we go, I for one did not sleep well last night."
***
When full dark comes you leave the house, slipping silently into the street. Arael insists on making the trip in darkness to avoid attracting attention. The trip is thus made slowly. Mostly you feel your way along with hands or sliding feet, occasionally stumbling, jamming toes, barking shins.
At one point Arael holds up his hand to stop the trip. "We must be dead or silent from hear out. I want to get to that stoop there. without being seen. And there are watchers. Just around the corner is the lair of a particularly nasty gang of hell-spawned thieves."
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Waifrin follows as quietly as she can, knowing well the dangers in the darkened streets. She nods as Areal warns of the tieflings - she has met their kind before as well. She moves very slowly and tried to ensure she stays out of line-of-sight from the gang, knowing they can see better in the darkness than her.
Stealth #1:
Stealth #2:
Mother and Raven: Sclavo has takes the lead in conversation. Morosino and Tarvi remain quiet unless addressed.
Sclavo introduces himself to Mother (Raven has seen him around before) , " Madam, I am pleased to meet you. I am Sclavos, a humble scribe for the courts and the dottari. Welcome to our little band. " Sclavos is an older man with a balding head over greying hair and beard, but he is not by any means old. He still moves with grace and energy. And he is very anxious for news.
"We have heard nothing here since the Hellknight's messenger came and they mounted nearly their whole barracks and charged out. It's been a bad couple of hours. How did it go? Is everyone safe?"
After your tale, if you've a mind, Sclavo would like to hear how and why you joined the "revolution".
Marius and Zara: As you depart the stables, Gorvio's uncle Theodo stares after you, frustrated and mystified by your comments.
Dinner at the Six Gold Coins, it is. Marius since you know the place better than me, perhaps you can describe it?
A good eight hours of rest or so. I guess you can charge up again.
A good eight hours of rest or so. I guess you can charge up again.
...Arael holds up his hand to stop the trip. "We must be dead or silent from hear out. I want to get to that stoop there...without being seen. And there are watchers. Just around the corner is the lair of a particularly nasty gang of hell-spawned thieves."
"I might be able to help us pass unseen," Akorian whispers, "But I can do little to mask any sounds we make."
Marius and Zara:
Mother and Raven:
Akorian and Waifrin:
Akorian and Waifrin:
After reaching the stoop, you crouch down behind it's railing and peak over the top. You can see around the corner of the next cross street.
"There, " whispers Arael. "That building across the street with the --- . Duck!"
A party of three people come out of the building. One of them either has ridiculous taste in hats or great horns growing out of his head. They scan their street both ways before moving off away from you. You can hear a few notes of their conversation indistinctly as they move away.
When silence reigns again, you raise your heads for a better look. "Did you see them?" Arael asks. "Members of one of the worst gangs in Westcrown, the Bastards of Erebus. Tieflings one and all. The regular gangs won't stomach them so they have to hide out here in the Parego Dospera. To make it worse they've holed up in the old temple to Erastil. They've desecrated sacred ground.
"Remember this place. We'll be back to make a name for the movement by cleaning out this den of thieves. "
***
Arael leads you away from the stoop. After just ten minutes more walking you reach a house built right up against the wall separating the abandoned Parego Dospera from the still vibrant districts of Westcrown. You wait until a patrol of dottari pass along the top of the wall. Their bright lanterns and torches make it easy to see and avoid them. Then it's a quick climb up the house wall, (Handholds have been carved into the brickwork.) and you drop down into Westcrown proper. On the way you dodge more patrols and a couple shadow-beasts.
You reach the safe-house a couple hours after dark. Just before opening the door Arael says, "We were lucky tonight that we didn't meet with anything dangerous."
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At the safe house, several hours after dark:
"We were lucky tonight that we didn't meet with anything dangerous."
"For them or us?" Waifrin asks with a slight smile as they enter the safe house. "Those tieflings have a bad reputation, right enough, and if the other gangs haven't dealt with them by now, they must be tough. We're going to have to think carefully and practice our abilities a little if we're going to get rid of them. On the other hand, the other gangs and groups around the city will be on the back foot. We could put one or two of them down before we deal with the main event," she muses aloud. "And the shadow beasts, now we know they are hiding our in the sewers, we could start making an inroad into them," she decides.
"Let's get something to eat, I'm hungry."
Akorian smiles at Waifrin's ideas. As she leaves him and Arael to go look for food, he shrugs at the half-elf. "Well, I did say they're an eager lot," he explains, "No lack of courage in these folks. And a good thing, too, or you'd be sitting in Citadel Rivad right about now. Let's go make sure the others have returned."
Setting down his pack and other belongings, the priest moves deeper into the safehouse, looking for Raven, Mother, Marius, or Zarabeta.
Setting down his pack and other belongings, the priest moves deeper into the safehouse, looking for Raven, Mother, Marius, or Zarabeta.
"Considering the time it took you to join us, am I to assume you took the scenic route? Perhaps a brief stop for refreshments on the way?"
Raven welcomes the trio with his usual carefree attitude, all bright golden eyes and friendly smile. "Things have been quiet here," he offers in a laconic way of saying that not much has happened in the time it took them to get to the safehouse.
"Considering the time it took you to join us, am I to assume you took the scenic route? Perhaps a brief stop for refreshments on the way?"
"Arael decided it made more sense to stay at a safehouse just outside the walls rather than try venturing back into the city immediately after the rescue," Akorian explains, "Smart thinking, too, I suppose. I imagine they probably roused the whole barracks to watch the gates for him. So we wound up going through the Dospera. Had to sneak past a gang of tieflings and dodge a few shadowbeasts, too. None of us can say it hasn't been an interesting day."
"Things have been quiet here," he offers in a laconic way of saying that not much has happened in the time it took them to get to the safehouse.
"Good. I'd rather not have a bunch of armigers beating down the door again," the priest replies, "Any word from Janiven and the others?"
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Zarabeta smiles at Raven, "Shadowbeasts and tieflings! Sounds like quite an adventure. Marius and I were detained by a surprisingly tasty stew of lamb, carrots, onion, potato and parsley, but we managed to best our adversary." She unwraps a napkin to reveal some bread, sprinkled with melted goat cheese, and then hands it to Raven. "I managed to secure this treasure from the beast, which I share with you."
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"Hardly, we sneaked past most of them. I wouldn't have minded a shot at the beasts, but Areal isn't armed, and we didn't want to draw attention to ourselves so early, I suppose," Waifrin grimaces.
"That colour-spell was good back there, by the way, it stopped that charge cold," she grins as Zara. With other spell-casters about she feels less self-conscious of her own abilities.
"I agree," Akorian praises Zarabeta, "It was particularly well-timed. And likely made the difference in us getting Arael out of there...while also ensuring no further loss of life, for either side."
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Zara smiles a genuine smile of surprise at Waifrin's praise, "Your arts as well, although foreign to me, seemed quite effective, and certainly your skill with a needle and thread, although less arcane, proved invaluable."
Akorian's praise elicits only an expression of confusion, and her eyes narrow as she responds with what seem very carefully chosen words, "Thank you. Your lady's healing gifts were also of great value, and a comfort to have at our side, especially with so many lives at risk."
Sclavo, Morosino, and Tarvi are all thrilled to have Arael back. They are glad to see Waifrin and Akorian, Marius and Zara, and Mother and Raven too, but the focus of this group before the PCs arrival was Arael, and so he remains.
Sclavo disrupts the celebratory reunion with a single question, "Where are Janiven and the others?"
Akorian's praise elicits only an expression of confusion, and her eyes narrow as she responds with what seem very carefully chosen words, "Thank you. Your lady's healing gifts were also of great value, and a comfort to have at our side, especially with so many lives at risk."
"The Everbloom certainly favored our actions this day," Akorian replies, sensing Zarabeta's tension and avoiding any further conversation that might provoke her. Better to leave the girl to her own thoughts and conclusions about him.
Sclavo disrupts the celebratory reunion with a single question, "Where are Janiven and the others?"
"Good question," Akorian responds, "That wagon couldn't have moved any more slowly than we did with Arael. We even took time to rest and eat before climbing the city wall. Surely, she should have been back by now."
The priest catches Raven's eye. "You think you could ask around? If not tonight...as soon as the sun rises?"
She unwraps a napkin to reveal some bread, sprinkled with melted goat cheese, and then hands it to Raven. "I managed to secure this treasure from the beast, which I share with you."
The elf takes the offered treat with his usual smile, although this time it seems as if he has put a bit more charm behind it. "Ah, that is very thoughtful of you lady. Alas, I have nothing to offer in return however. Have you any idea perhaps on how I might be able to make up for that?"
The priest catches Raven's eye. "You think you could ask around? If not tonight...as soon as the sun rises?"
"It should not be a problem. I suppose it would be simple enough. However, I am not certain I would find many people to talk to, even my... kind of people, during the night."
Raven shrugs in an off-hand manner. "Those pesky beasts tend to be bad for business and some such, you understand."
Raven shrugs in an off-hand manner. "Those pesky beasts tend to be bad for business and some such, you understand."
"You're right about that," Akorian agrees. He looks worriedly toward the safehouse windows. "I'm just hoping our friends haven't run across any of them."
"And if they've run afoul of shadowbeasts..." Akorian hates pondering the idea of Janiven's crew, and especially Amaya, encountering such things.
"Arael? You know Janiven better than the rest of us...," he states, "And you certainly had your own ideas about how best to re-enter Westcrown while avoiding detection. Do you think Janiven has done the same? Or do you think it wise that we risk violating the mayor's curfew in order to look for them tonight?"
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Janiven is smart and she knows these streets well..but I'm not sure she's at ease in the countryside..maybe they took a wrong turning somewhere and have to overnight at a farmhouse..if you think we have to go look for them tonight then I will join you but it's a big city and the dangers are many"
Marius greets his cousin with a hug..takes off his gauntlet and shakes hands with Arael...then turns to Akorian..
"May I have a word with you in private" he asks the noble priest.
"Janiven is smart and she knows these streets well..but I'm not sure she's at ease in the countryside..maybe they took a wrong turning somewhere and have to overnight at a farmhouse..if you think we have to go look for them tonight then I will join you but it's a big city and the dangers are many..."
"Perhaps you're right," Akorian agrees.
"May I have a word with you in private" he asks the noble priest.
"Certainly," he responds. "Arael? I'll leave it to you if you think we should search for Janiven and the others."
Arael considers for a moment. "No, if they were in the city Janiven would have gotten us word. They must be out in the country-side. They could be anywhere. A search would be futile. We'll wait until morning."
Sclavo says, "I hate to bring this up. But if they have been captured, this is the first place the dottari or Hellknights would come. It might be best if we pair off and sleep elsewhere tonight. We can meet someplace public like Plaza Leroug in the morning."
Tarvi looks alarmed, but manages a small joke. "If they are going to come after me, I'd rather be comfortably in my own bed. Could someone walk me home?" Mother agrees to go with her.
Morosino just shakes his head dismissively. "They won't catch Janiven."
"That's good advice," Akorian supports Sclavo's conclusion, "I'll head home." He gestures toward Waifrin and Marius. "You're both welcome to join me, if you'd like."
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"It seems as if every time we part ways, there are less of us when we are re-united." Zarabeta frets, but steels herself to go out into the Shadowbeast-ruled night to wander around lost for awhile.
She looks around, her eyes flicking on Morosino, whom she seems overly protective of, but quickly settles on master Arael. "Do you have a place to stay, sir, or is your regular resting place compromised? If such is the case, you are welcome to share my room at the Waking Wren (an inexpensive, but relatively clean inn/flophouse) for the evening, although I am betrothed, so please do not mistake this for any other sort of invitation."
Despite the prim delivery of the last bit, she has a slight grin, suggesting that she is teasing.
Sclavo says, "I hate to bring this up. But if they have been captured, this is the first place the dottari or Hellknights would come. It might be best if we pair off and sleep elsewhere tonight. We can meet someplace public like Plaza Leroug in the morning."
"I have a place to stay as well and it would seem I am due a visit, thus I believe I will follow your advice and retire for the night," Raven replies. His mind travels to the food-and-lodging establishment his half-elven friend works.
"It has been a few days since my last dancing lesson after all," he adds without explanation, chuckling softly as if enjoying a private joke.
"I am fairly certain I could accomodate one more, though it might take a little persuading on my part since the place is not mine," the elf offers.