Victor uses a moment to activate his Expeditious Retreat arcane spell, only to rush after the monk in a head spinning dash.
Victor, seeing the futility of charging after Garroth, decides to let such things fall upon the sentinels and instead returns to the original crime scene. Only, to his great delight, find that a few familiar faces has gathered. Noting especially the druid, he takes a stance directly behind her, leaning in close to catch every detail of the conversation. With his magically enchanted movement, he makes it there within a couple of seconds, his breath not even revealing his presence.
The blonde woman thinks about firing an arrow after the retreating party, but thinks better of it. It would just be out of spite, and the man surely would keep them from any serious harm as they hurried away. She bares her teeth for a moment before remembering herself. She chants a swift prayer to Asmodeus, healing energy soothing the bruising from the falling rocks and the gash from the crossbow.
She turns to Marcello, obviously fuming. "Are you ok, warrior?"
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Turning around the corner to get a better angle at the redheaded woman, Marcello was a bit surprised to see Crystal, but quickly recovered himself.
Giving himself a moment to think about the situation, he gave a little shrug. "The damage to me is purely superficial, nothing to worry about." Which was true. The only damage the warrior had was only a blood splotch on his head from the stone rain. Otherwise, it looked as if no injury had gotten to him.
"And you My Lady? Are you ok?" He had seen the spell do its work, but that didn't mean that it had covered all of it.
"Well enough. Let us retire and leave the sentinels to their work." She finds her horse after a time, then slowly canters back to the Keep, seething.
Once inside:
To Victor, "Perhaps if you were going to initiate a fight, you might warn me so I may prepare a better repertoire of spells! If those sentinels hadn't been there, we would have likely been run off." She breathes heavily, calming herself. "I was going to try to speak with them, learn some motivations of theirs, determine if they were truly foes or perhaps future friends who had a bit of a misunderstanding. Now we have surely destroyed any hope of that, if it ever existed!"
Sarcastically rolling her eyes, "Oh, sorry about that, Sarcon! Please continue your good work."
In a decidedly more subdued tone, she looks to the others. "What to do now? Those fools will surely try to strike back."
Fate's voice reverberates through the hall of the keep. "Does your prince of devils teach his vorshipers to give up so easily, Fraulein Shalhoume?"
Fate taps the armrest of her throne. "Fate has plans of her own."
"Ve vill extend an invitation to these so-called heroes, as an apology for the unfortunate circumstances of our earlier meetings, and to therefore arrange a cessation of hostilities. Ve vill of course take steps to assure them of our benevolent motives." Fate glances to Sarcon. "The practical among them desire the ability to operate vithout interference. The idealists among them vill see it as an opportunity for honest cooperation. Either vay, they vill come."
Fate holds out an open hand, like a woman offering a gentleman an invitation to dance.
"Ve vill give them the opportunity to vork vith us. They vill likely refuse as a group, but Fate expects that some might be more amenable than others. Ve vill note this information, and use it. Vhat a man is vhen the eyes of his fellows are on him, and vhat he is vhen no one is looking are two very different things."
Fate shifts in her seat, returning her hand to her throne, and leaning on her other fist as her elbow rests on the armrest. She sighs.
"If ve do find they are truly incorruptible, then ve vill at least know this information for certain, und ve can plan accordingly in the future."
The fgure removes its dreadful mask and raises itself to its full heigh, the empty eyesockets starring at Victoria first, giving her a small draw of the shoulder.
Then it turns towards Crystal, and despite of the fact that its jaw remains locked, a void, malevolent voice stills flows from the figure, in a neary startlingly slow, gentle manner."I will excuse that berating, Miss Shalhoume and ease your mind with the following information. These.... lawless, nearly cutless humanoid beasts, were planning to shoot you down as you rode closer. Their intent was already hostile and they aimed to maim the both of you. An act I could not allow to pass."
The priestess looks at the undead wizard dubiously, her posture disbelieving. Still, it wouldn't serve to squabble over it. What was done, was done, and couldn't be undone. She turns to the group at large, particularly Fate.
"So what would you suggest, Fate? They won't likely take kindly to a sentinel showing up, and a messenger boy would likely be laughed away."
Skeletal fingers taps against the lesser throne's armrests as Victor dumps himself down in the seat, he runs a finger tip over his chin, or the skeletal structure of said chin, and mumbles for himself for a moment, uttering phrases in an unknown language. Only for him to suddenly speak up, in his hollow, joyless voice:
"We should be cautious with sending them such invitations, we might risk lending them some manner of credibility if we are to openly acknowledge that we deem them enough of a threat to barter with them. So, subtly should be our greatest weapon in this issue."
After having used a moment to correct the position of his crown, he adds:
"And now that we have angered them, might I suggest that we order our minions to amass within the keep, our own security should be our biggest priority at the moment. I suggest regular, scheduled patrols with and outside the keep. With at least a single sentinel posted at every gate and every possible entrance. Having our men out there is all nice and good, but our leadership and all the cunning in the world won't mean anything if we are attacked. As thus I say that we concentrate on our own defenses.
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Standing behind Crystal, Marcello had nothing to say about extending an invitation to the other group of people. In his mind they acted as a group of mercenaries.
Their goal could have been the same as theirs, getting control over the city, but their endgame... It must be a lot different from his and the group...
Raising an eyebrow at Victor's comment, Marcello quelled a laugh. "So we shouldn't just go over to them and jump at them in the street? Understood." Going back into his own mind to think over what could be gotten from inviting them.
They would invite them in... Meaning that they wouldn't have to waste resources fighting the Sentinels. Raising a sudden concern, Marcello decided the others might have a better clue. "How many Sentinels do we control? And how many can we order to say... Guard the keep?" Seeing as they would have to venture out and raise their own power in order to fight the other group, they would either need to split into 2 groups or they would need guards here. Could the Sentinels work like that?
If we divert too many of the sentinels away from their tax collecting duties, we could see a corresponding fall in revenues." She holds a hand up to forestall any arguments. "I am not against consolidating our resources, just pointing out a fact."
"If we can make allies out of this group, which has proven itself moderately capable, we would completely firm up our grasp on this City. Shall I go extend the invitation personally?" She thinks for a moment, then adds, "We can always have a stack of Sentinels in the next room beyond the dining hall, waiting to join us if they should decide on violence. And one of us can remain behind in the throne room to give commands to them." She looks to Fate at this point, judging her capable of knowing when to talk things through and when to fight.
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Nodding along to what Crystal said, Marcello raised a concern of his. "Whatever our choice may be, it will have to be quick and effective. If we do not show that we take them serious, they will just pass the offer. If we end the message with force, they might react more violently, keeping Victor's attack on mind..."
Looking of in the distance, Marcello seemed to dawn on something, even with the transformation burning in his body, he had forgotten all about it... As if the fire was simply a part of him. Snapping his head to Crystal, he lowered his voice a bit. "Lady Shalhoume... What if our... Deal with De Wesnu, will act as we are speaking with them?"
Remembering the happening of Victor, Marcello would not like to drop dead in front of this group of mercenaries.
A small crease of concern appears in Crystal's forehead, but she wipes it away easily enough, shrugging. "I've never felt better in my life, to be honest. Whatever he did seems to be invigorating me, I've never felt more energetic or alive!" She grins at the hellknight as they await everyone else's input.
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Looking a bit surprised by the statement from Crystal, Marcello nodded slowly, trying to take in how she felt.
Raising his voice again so the rest could hear him. "As much as I hate giving a potential enemy access to our base, I'm willing to follow up on any plan you deem worthy so..."
Feeling the fire burn through him, he winced slightly and continued, "Because I will retire for the rest of the day... De Wesnu seems to play with my insides today."
Making a small bow for each of them, even a small for Sarcon, Marcello turned and walked away.
Tuesday
I hope this missive finds you and your group in good health. You have my deepest apologies for what happened in the streets on Monday. Perhaps it was all a misunderstanding? The fog of war creates uncertainty, and your companion's blatant destruction of one of the tax collectors and enforcers of this City certainly had my party on edge. As for our wizard's pre-emptive strike against you, all I can tell you is that I was not aware of such an action being imminent. We had strong words behind closed doors, and I can assure you that an attack of that nature will not be forthcoming again.
I would like to meet with you to discuss future plans between our two groups, for the mutual benefit of both. Meet me at ? Tavern Wednesday a couple of hours after dusk, and we can talk.
Hope to see you there,
Crystal (the blonde)
The blonde grins as she receives a letter back from the man. She looks to the others, but particularly Marcello.
"Looks like I've got a dinner appointment at ? Tavern. Marcello, why don't you stay here and help Fate and Victor with their defense plans. I'm sure with your mastery of tactics, you will be an invaluable asset." She places her hand on the man's armored chest, looking up at him fondly.
Turning to the others, "So I am to invite this man and his companions here on Friday, perhaps an hour after dusk, for a dinner meeting to resolve our differences and work out an arrangement?"
As the next couple of days pass by, the priestess will travel to the establishment in question, noting its common area and possible private areas. She toys with the idea of meeting in the common area for security concerns, and meeting in the private area for secrecy concerns.
After her second visit, she finally just shrugs. She surely didn't want any commoner to hear the goings-on between her and the man. Private room it was, then. She makes her way to the proprietor. She instructs him on her dinner arrangements Wednesday night, and gives a description of Melaphi to the man. Mulling over the idea of a trap by the other group, she asks that the man take note of any who enter the place with the man, or who seem to take more than a casual interest in him. Finally, she tells the proprietor that if she has not emerged from the chamber within an hour, to send word to her companions at The Keep.
"Quite, quite. I assume that I will have to retire to a more private setting by then, we can't have them discovering my current.... state of affairs. Until then.... I will be looking into something."
Victor returns to his throne and begins flipping through his vast tome of spells.
Crystal is informed that the man himself has been by a few times, touring the establishment and taking notes. However, that is apparently semi-common for wealthier clientele or their servants.
The left corner of Crystal's lips pulls up in an amused smile as she is told the information. She pays 4 gp for the booth and dinner for two. She arrives about 30 minutes before the meeting time, scouring the first floor for any familiar faces, before heading up to the booth on the third floor.
Victor peers at the remaining villains through his empty eye-sockets, the jaw closing and opening as per a habit as he considers his words: "Perhaps we should all remain in the keep upon this week, I do not know the minds of these vagrant men and females, however, I would not be shocked if they seek to take our power from us."
Sarcon approaches the day manager and attempts to bargain for a position as a bouncer. While the man seems impressed by Sarcon's physical prowess, he regretfully informs the half-orc that they have all of the bouncers they can use right now. However, apparently there is a position open for a room servant.
"That is good to hear. You will be paid every Monday. Report tomorrow morning to receive your apron and begin training." the man says with a thin, impersonal smile.
"Sarcon, when I went to the third floor to arrange dinner, I believe there was some kind of sound-suppressing effect in place. I don't anticipate trouble...but keep your ears open. There's an exit from the third floor that leads down to ground level and the roof." Crystal refrains from making fun of the half-orc's new job. Rubbing salt in the wound of her previous and possible future savior was never a good idea.
Perception to look for familiar faces on 1st Floor:
Perception on 2nd Floor:
Perception on 3rd Floor:
Oops! Let me add this!
Perception when approaching building:
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Knowing which tavern was in question, Marcello decided that he would take a less direct approach than simply showing up at the meeting and refusing to go. Crystal probably knew more about all this than he did.
Nevertheless, he decided to go to the tavern in good time before the actual meeting.
Spotting nothing suspicious, Marcello simply walks in. Giving a quick glance around, trying to find whoever in charge. Marcello strikes a scary figure in the Hellknight armor as he stands there, with his greatsword hilt sticking over his shoulder.
Spotting the manager/innkeeper, Marcello moves to talk with him.
"My good man!" talking a bit louder than intended, Marcello quickly lowered his voice so that only they would be heard. "You don't know me, I'm sure, but I have a request for you." Stopping quickly in order to let the man understand that Marcello had no violent intentions, at the moment, he continued if the man had no problem with Marcello, or even if he had... Marcello would just have to butt head with him harder. "Later this evening, there will be a dear friend of mine that will have a meeting with an... Associate..." His entire face convulsed slightly into a bitter mask, which the man couldn't see because of the helmet. "As you might be able to hear, I am not pleased about that, but I am willing to let the meeting happen... However, the associate is not known for being... Trustworthy and he will most likely bring men to get what he wants." Stopping shortly, Marcello would continue without letting the man get a proper word in. "I'm certain you would stop a fight if it happened, I trust you on that... But if anything happens to my dear friend, the Priestess of the One God, and you did nothing to help her... I will hear about it." What before had been a jovial talk, almost friendly, was now low and menacing. "I'm not going to waste your time, more importantly, nor my own with empty threats, so let me state a fact."
Silence filled as Marcello locked eyes with the man through the helmet. His gray eyes seemed white and only fueled by hate and anger. "If anything happens to her, I will make sure that you will pay dearly for it. Not just you, but your family and this tavern will disappear... As if it had never existed."
Marcello made sure the man understood and decided to end it with a final statement. "Remember, this isn't a threat. It is a fact." Standing in his full height, Marcello has a hand on the hilt and walks out of the Tavern... Ready to return at the right time.
As Crystal enters the establishment and makes her way to the casino, the only familiar sight is that of Sarcon dragging some poor soul into the last supply closet he would ever see.
Marcello's attempt to intimidate the manager is met with an assurance that this part of town is safe and the establishment has adequate security. However, the manager himself seems to have found much to do in the store room after the encounter.
As Crystal goes out to meet Melaphi and Marcello dons his new armor to go scare some people, Sarcon leaves Fate and Victor in the Keep to go buy some false-bottomed cups for dinner party games that all are sure to enjoy.
Victor prattles on through unmoving jaw about arcane things and undead problems that fleshbags just wouldn't understand while Fate ponders the... destiny, of the City, surveying the work of the sentinels from time to time.