Briar nods, happy to help.
"And don't forget we must discuss where you got that neckl--" Briar's voice cuts short as his eyes follow Barael as he exits quietly and gracefully.
Well, that was a nice visit.
Briar smiles and rises...going to the belt lying on the table. He wonders if he made the right choice and what might be done to correct his own lack of sturdiness.
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Barael stops as he gains the center of his room. He pats the belt, then moves to his Haversack. A rare bit of functional magic, Barael pats it, too. You know what I want. How you know, I don't care to know, only that you do. Barael understands that he would have never had this thought, save for his friendship with the Elf. Well, let's have this done, then.
Barael lifts the flap, revealing a small coin pouch, given to him long ago by Eries herself. If you find the need... Barael lifts it out, unties and opens it, then smells it deeply. He sets the pouch on the table.
If you find the need, Barrie. What is that, again?
Barael moves to the bed, where he proceeds to pull the mattress from the frame, and onto the floor. He moves all the furniture to the walls, giving the mattress a wide berth. He breaks out in a sweat with the labor, and he allows a light chuckle as he pictures what this scene must look like. No, Ma. I was only rearranging a bit, what do you think? No, of course I'm not suffering withdrawal. What makes you say that?
Barael moves the desk in front of the door, forgetting that he just recently passed through a wall, undeterred.
Picking up the pouch, Barael moves to the mattress, and kneels down, unconsciously mimicking Briar's recent meditative posture. Please. Don't let this hurt too much. That's all I ask.
He empties half the pouch into his mouth, and begins to chew. It proves to be difficult, both for the toughness of the plant, and for the taste. He keeps working it, his saliva slowing its flow, making his jaw start to ache.
It's down. It's done.
His stomach complains in a gurgle, and Barael tenses, ready for some violent seizure to overtake him. He remembers to breathe again, but does so slowly, expecting the expansion of his lungs to begin cracking his ribs. Nothing. The shadow of my dream... has remained there.
Then it happens.
His vision dims, as does his mind. He blinks several times to make sure it's not just a trick of the light. He starts to hear sounds within his skull. With a little concentration, he realizes that his teeth are shifting, settling. As he reaches for his jaw, he recognizes that his chin whisker is no longer there. The itch is gone. In his excitement, he almost pees himself, again. Almost.
Barael brings his hand to his mouth, wiping away remnants of Eries' Mercy. He lays down on the mattress, a calm washing over him, like her warm embrace. Before he slips into what will be the most peaceful night of rest he's ever experienced, he whispers gratitude before losing consciousness.
"Gone. The Rat... is gone."
"Barrie? Are you awake?" Her taps are light at first, faint like the first light coming through the windows. With no answer, they grow heavier, vibrating the door with emphasis.
"Barrie? ARE you AwAKE?" Her voice rises a little, so he can hear through the door.
"I...I think I'm ready now."
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Charlie breezes by the party to freshen up.
"Hey...HEY!!! ijuswannasay..."
Then he walks away. After some time he comes back wiping his chin looking a bit more chipper.
Ijuswannasay...you...guys.......arethebesssss..."
He walks away and comes back after "freshening up." With water still dripping from his stringy, greasy hair he walks up to Barael tapping him firmly yet brutally on the chest.
"Meanit..I meanedit..." Chuckling, he heads back out into the night of 10am.
The sunlight falls on the mattress and the man. Light taps, becoming more insistent, start to rouse him from sleep. He stretches like a cat, frowning that he's being disturbed. Go away, Ma. I've nothing to do today, so there's no need to get up so early...
His eyes open, and he pushes himself off the floor.
"ARE you AwAKE?"
Barael looks down on himself, stands up and adjusts himself, and passes through the wall just next to the door, avoiding the desk that has obstructed normal entrance and exit.
He takes advantage of the space around him to stretch fully, bending at the waist, front then back, before turning to Dandi. He's caught off guard as Charlie taps him square on the scar, and the expected pain of it is significantly less.
"Sorry! Sleep took me in her arms, and wouldn't let go so easily this morning." Barael smiles sleepily.
Dandi laughs as Charlie wanders up and away again. "I can never decide whether he or Briar is the more devout of our little band."
"Well, perhaps sleep could spare you for a little while. I...I think I'm ready to try again. If you are. I mean, we'll need to leave soon, and I'd thought maybe we could Uhhh..." She stops, frowning as she looks at him. Her head tips to one side and she shifts, shuffling for a different perspective.
"You look... different."
Fondo wakes early, unable to sleep from anticipation of what comes. Back to dancing with death and putting on a brave face. But courage true does come when comrades are so strong and love lies at the core.
He magically cleans and grooms himself, adding a hint of sandalwood and rose to his scent. He then goes to gather Barael for breakfast and suggest a spar. Seeing Dandi and Charlie gathered around his Brov, he smiles. "Good morrow, friends. Brov, you shave this morning?" He indicates Barael's whisker-free chin.
Barael turns his chin from side-to-side, his smile a little straighter. He sways ever so slightly to Dandi, then back to Fondo. "Well, I'm feeling less hairy, if that's what you mean."
He looks back to Dandi expectantly.
Fondo gives Barael a quizzical look, and then gets an almost-blush on his face, realizing he may be interrupting a moment.
Leave them alone, that they may chasteness cast aside at last.
Smiling and giving Barael a knowing wink, he calls after Charlie. "Might I help you set the feast, Kako?"
Her eyes narrow, as she moves from looking at him to examining. She reaches out, running her hands over Barael's whisker-free cheeks and whatever shyness may have been before dissipates in the shadow of the current mystery.
"He didn't shave. There's no razor burn to it. And... are your teeth different?" She doesn't actually pry his mouth open to check, but she does trace his jaw line as long as he allows, then leans in close. "and you smell different too."
Finally remembering herself, and where they are and the others around them, she softens her voice and whispers. "Not bad, just...different. Like... Spring."
Barael starts to look concerned, when the final word falls. He smiles, his eyes closing slightly. "Spring. I like that. Time of the year that brings renewal. Brings promise."
Barael smells the air, hoping for the powerful smell of kahve, the savory whiff of bacon. He sighs, somewhat nostalgically when the smells don't come easily.
He turns to Dandi, closes the distance, and embraces her warmly, before stepping back. "Now, you were saying you were ready?"
"hmmm?" She inhales again in the embrace and nods to herself.
"What? Oh yes. Ready. I am, I mean, if you are. I know our previous experiment was... difficult. And.. don't think I don't know that you underplayed just how much. So I've been researching some things while we've been here, well, Wraith and I. I think I've found an answer. Something different. I was hoping..." suddenly very aware of where they are instead of where they aren't, her voice falls even more as she tucks her head close to his, her hair falling like a curtain around them.
"...would you like to try again with me? I won't hurt you this time. At least, I don't think so."
Barael listens, and mostly pays attention. He remembers his place better than she. "I trust that you learned something through our last try. I know I did. If it means that I get to fly with you again, then even a little hurt won't discourage me from participating. Tell me what we need to do." Barael considers inviting her to the table, to eat with the others first, for his hunger has risen. Understanding what may come next, he thinks better on it, and decides to leave his stomach empty. Just in case.
Dandi straightens, looking at Fondo and remembering their last conversation. She shakes her head, but takes Barael's hands as she continues, though her words address the one as much as the other, "I never want to hurt you. We would not do this again if I thought it would be like the first time. But I think it will be ok."
Stepping back, she smiles a little at Fondo. " I hope you'll excuse us, Brala. This is something better done in private. We will not be too overly long, I don't think. I'll take good care."
Assuming an affirmative answer, she heads back to her room.
Fondo smiles rakishly. "I hope you will take time aplenty. Tis a thing that deserves a full day's effort, at least. Shall I bring you a tray? Oysters fresh from heaven's shores?"
Barael follows, contentedly unaware of the meaning of 'double entendre'.
Blushing so deeply that even her hair turns a faint shade of pink, Dandi continues on her way with Barael without answering Fondo's kind and generous offer.
Entering her room, it is clear that Dandi has been up far longer than her companion. No cobwebs shimmer in the corners as they usually do, and a small statuette of a dream spider nestles in the box that once contained her necklace. At least, it appears to be the same box, though now its satin covering shimmers in a lovely opalescent cream.
Next to it, a flagon of wine waits with a single goblet. A single gem glimmers beside them both.
"Last time was not what I wanted, not at all. This time, it should be better, though you will have to help me, Barrie. I... I don't want to fall like last time..." She pours the wine and bids him to settle... "Wherever is most comfortable..." as she weaves her words over the wine before bringing them all to settle next to him.
"It will be better, but I will fall, as before. You will have to take over when I cannot." she rolls the goblet in her one hand, and twirls the gem in the other.
"...for a moment, a very important moment, it will be up to you."
"...for a moment, a very important moment, it will be up to you."
He remembers her fallen form on the floor, so decides to pull the mattress from the bed, and sits in the middle of it. He experiences a little deja vu, and nods to himself. Lower to the floor, this is good.
"I... understand. I don't want anything to go wrong here. Whatever must be done in that moment, will I be able to recognize it?" Barael fidgets with his hands, not sure how to use them to express what concern he has at the moment.
"I'm ready when you are." His words resonate smoothly.
She smiles and sits next to him. "Oh yes, you'll know. once I fall, count to six, and then drink the wine. That's really the most important part. You must finish all of it, even the dregs, or... or it could be bad. Just drink it all, please."
When he is as ready as she is, she begins to speak, first to the wine, and then to the gem. Her eyes gleam, as if her soul has risen up to abide in the forefront. She takes his hands and wrap them round the goblet's stem along with her own, but her words never falter. Hand in hand, she continues then stops. The gem pulses in her hand as she holds it above the goblet - then lets it fall.
It sinks, beginning to dissolve before it settles to the bottom. Just as quickly, Dandi slips to the mattress, an indefinite...*something*... hissing from her mouth to follow the gem into the drink. Her hands go slack, and were it not for his own wrapped round them, the goblet would fall, spilling its precious contents to soak uselessly into the mattress.
With Dandi's life quite literally in his hands, it is all up to Barrie now.
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Magic. This is her magic. This is Her.
Barael takes the goblet in his hands, the ceremony now at hand. Like countless times before, he's always watched it at a distance. The Church of Aroden was inviting enough, and he grew familiar with the rituals. Now, he takes his place at a new altar. He is invited, intimately, to participate. To commune. With a goddess. He starts to feel intimidated by it. By the power he witnesses so closely.
He watches the gem drop, but time slows at that very moment, and he sees her glowing eyes, like stars, reflecting in the facets. When the gem hits the surface of the wine, there is no splash. He sees the wine cradle the gem as if to cushion it, to protect it in its fall.
Barael's eyes enlarge, at first from watching the gem fall, then from watching Dandi fall. He almost lets go of the goblet, to catch her.
Instead, he bobbles the goblet.
In the same slowing of time, he sees the wine splash up the side, and into the air. He breathes, steadying himself. He focuses, and in the focus, understands. His hands trace the air in the same pattern, cradling the splashed wine, inviting it in its entirety, to nestle back into the goblet, where all of it belongs. Like her voice, his hands never falter. He reclaims Her.
One-canary, two-canary, three-canary...
He drinks slowly, deeply, much as he would inhale her scent in an embrace. Is it the wine or Dandi herself that brings him a heady feeling? He doesn't care. His eyes roll upwards slightly, feeling the wine's warmth work its way down his throat. He closes his eyes, allowing him to really see...
He only spares a moment to open his eyes, to look into the goblet's mouth.
It is empty, and Barael is full.
Briar crafts this day...as nothing else of any importance is going on.
When finished with his major craftery, he will contact each of the party to arrange a Day 13 pre-planning meeting over breakfast at the Mansion. Your attendance is requested.
"We discuss our return to Korvosa. If you have anything to add to the agenda, please let me know."
Her spirit follows the gem, dissolving into the wine. The world twists and for a moment she surges like the ocean, breaking upon the rim of the world. She is undone, her soul splashing into a thousand tiny bits only to be caught again, safe and secure in the goblet.
She is in good hands.
And a better heart. On the count of six, he drinks her down, her soul flowing along with the wine. On the count of 12, she begins to rise again, her spirit separating from the liquid. Dissolved, there is nowhere else to flow, but into him.
This is nothing like Magic Jar. She does not have to shove him out, but flows over and around him, filling up the empty spaces. Her thoughts gather in the hollows of his own; a forgotten memory here, a lost name there. She fills up the empty spaces, then overflows. There is only so much room, regardless of the vessel. Her soul suffuses into his.
Are we ok? she thinks to ask, the question shared before the thought is through. Sensation quivers on the edge of her awareness; flesh and blood and nerves welcome her back from oblivion.
.
When Briar comes, Fondo is sitting in his accustomed window, which looks out upon the rooftops of Kaer Maga. Though in hiding, he sits there nonchalantly, confident in Deyanira's magics, which veil thei sides of the suite.
He smiles as Briar enters and makes his invitation. "Ah yes. Tis almost time. Incursions must no longer wait. What mansion do you mean? Shall I ask Deyanira to prepare the space with wards? Your magicks joined shall surely keep our conversation safe."
He looks at Briar a moment. "Tell me devotee of magic's source: what glimpse can you of our near future gain? What truths from ether can you pluck?"
"Stop!! You're hurting him!!" All four faces turn, at first alarmed, then relieved, as they size up the 'guard' in front of them. The fourth continues kicking, while two of the three try and chase him down. He avoids them easily, but understands only one thing can be done. Between him and them. He tumbles through them, and covers the old dog with his body.
Laughter, then more kicking. He doesn't move, doesn't yell out. He lets them kick him. Only him. The pain is nothing new. He's been kicked like this before. It inevitably stops, the laughter fades.
He can hear labored breathing. Not his own. He lifts the old dog's head, and sets it in his lap. He strokes the dog's head gently, feels the dry tongue lick his hand in appreciation. The tail wags for only a little while, then it stops.
Your last thoughts were of love, not pain. That's all I can ask for.
Are we ok?
Y-yes. I think so. We dance? He tries to make room, tries to be the shore to her waves, but she overwhelms as a riptide. Just as quickly, she's pulled away, dragging thoughts, impulses, memories into greater depths.
Y-yes. I think so. We dance? He tries to make room, tries to be the shore to her waves, but she overwhelms as a riptide. Just as quickly, she's pulled away, dragging thoughts, impulses, memories into greater depths.
Her eyes prickle. Tears gather in the corners, slip down his nose. love, not pain...let it always be so.
She tries to steady herself, to soothe the sea of memory. She stabilizes the levels by strength of will alone, but even in still waters, dark things rise.
Joy spreads through her and she forgets herself, forgets who she's with."Look, see how beautiful! She's making me pretty, like her web. I asked her to and she said she would!"
Another voice answers from above. "It's just a spider, Weed. Worth even less than you are!" She realizes her mistake too late, the fat grubby hand shooting out, snatching her new friend from her hair to hold it in front of her face.
"Pay attention, Weed. How pretty is your spider now?" It doesn't take much; the spider's such a little thing. She can hear its scream in her mind as he squeezes, crushing the lovely thing between his fat, fishy fingers.
Lamm's face looms over her as he wipes his fingers on her blouse, staining it with what is left of her belated friend. "Now get to work, or I may figure out you're useless too."
Barael feels his face, wet from tears. It confuses him, until she reminds him of a memory he had long ago forgotten. He feels her feeling his pain, and the tears become mutual. Frustration that he couldn't keep something like that from her. Sadness over the senseless death.
She flanks him on all sides. It shouldn't be possible, but that doesn't stop her. He doesn't feel threatened. Quite the opposite. It feels as though she is always at his side. He breathes deeply, sensing the next wave about to bring him under, hoping that his lungs will sustain them both, until they can surface again.
Barael sweats profusely, the pain in his side no longer there as he runs. He's checked two other taverns, but he finds him in the third. He stops at the bar first, securing the purchase of his Da's favorite, Oldlaw. He approaches the table, both hands on the bottle to avoid catastrophe.
"Ma says she's sorry, and she wanted you to enjoy another round." These become the last words he ever speaks to his father, who does all the talking for the rest of the evening. Da decides he needs the night air, and Barael accompanies him. They make their way through the Midlands, finally settling on the docks to welcome the dawn.
Barael is almost asleep, resting against a pillar, when he hears the splash. He is immediately awake, and sees his Da flailing in the water. He only pauses for the briefest consideration, before jumping in to help him.
They're both beneath the waters when Barael reaches him. His father clutches at his son, desperate to breath again. For a moment, his father smiles, reassured by Barael's presence.
Then his expression changes to terror. There is something else in the water with them. Da grasps fearfully at Barael, trying to leverage himself upwards. Something wrenches him violently, and he stops grasping. His eyes lock on Barael's, and he shoves Barael away from him, towards the surface. Barael watches as his father is pulled into the depths, blood permeating the waters.
Barael gains the pier before blackness overtakes him.
Down and down, she sinks into his memory. Surprise swamps her. This...She remembers this. But it is nothing like he whispered in those moments in Scarwall's shade.
"It wasn't you, Barrie. You tried to save him! It wasn't you." She tries to embrace him, to hold him tight against the terrors of the past.
"You were as good as you always are, better than he deserved." Fierce love and a desperate protectiveness surges, swamping her. She realizes with a rush that even these she cannot keep entirely to herself; her emotions slip free from her grasp, flowing out into the "we". Secrets... the word loses its effectiveness just now.
She tries to move, to distract him, but she is too fluid. Focus!
Who knew it took such will just to stand. To control the physical body with only spirit and determination.
But stand she does, taking him with her. She moves, their arms wrapping tight around them. They stumble, too many cooks in a tiny kitchen. She steps around the body at their feet, avoids the spill of tangled tresses as she makes her way to the tiny mirror.
"Look at you. LOOK!" His voice, her words. She can't help but smile as she sees him in the mirror. Tousled hair falls over his eyes, and she is struck once more by the wiry strength of him, and the sweetness of his face.
"You are so good, Barrie. SO good! How could you ever believe otherwise?"
Reaching up, she allows herself what she so often denies; her fingers, feather light and only a little awkward, brush his locks from their eyes. She wants to see them, to drown a little bit in the dark warmth of his beautiful eyes.
But these are not the eyes she is looking for.
Her eyes, filled with love, stare out from his face. Their blue is startling, too bright and too deep to be human, but the emotion behind them is remarkably so.
Barael brushes the locks from her eyes, and smiles as she wipes the tears from his face. He looks at the blue, and sets it to memory. For someone to see him for who he really is, and through his own eyes, he shakes his head as the thoughts seek to dizzy him. It's the mirror, silly. Keep looking into it, and you may lose yourself. He silently asks permission to turn away, towards what he would rather look upon.
Her posture is so much more peaceful than he remembers it. When they first performed the Jarring, she had looked like a marionette with its strings newly severed. Now, she looks at rest. As he brings them closer, he notices that her mouth is lightly upturned, as if in pleasant dream. He kneels down, and pulls her body into his arms, supporting her lithe form as he brushes her hair from her face.
"I would consider myself a lucky man to look upon this face each and every waking day of the rest of my life."
Barael nuzzles his nose to hers.
"I would like to look upon you now, if that's alright with you."
"Y-yess....That is very much..."
Disconcerting, to see herself so, to feel him hold her from the outside and not in. She tries to respond, but it is this body that nuzzles stronger, and hers that remains limp in his arms. Frustration builds and she gathers herself to go.
And she very much wishes to be back, to hold and be held in the standard fashion. To see him with her full faculties and touch his face with her own fingertips.
It only takes a moment, a thought mutually focused and she pours out again upon his breath and into her waiting self.
She shudders as she enters, her back arching in his arms. Her soul slips down into the waiting spaces, reacquainting itself with her form. Her eyes flutter and a smile spreads across her mouth.
"...alright with me."
"There you are." Barael has never felt more pleased in his life.
"Rare you are, Dandi. I..." Barael pauses forgetfully, as her eyes engage him in a nakedness that makes him blush. "I want you to know that I can never repay what you just brought back to me. For you to want us to fly together, you first had to break my shackles. I didn't understand them for what they were, but in their absence, I have never felt more unburdened. And grateful."
Barael leans down to kiss Dandi on her forehead, then her nose, the third arriving on her lips, where it stays until it's satisfied.
"I'll spend my life trying to repay you, if you let me. Probably even if you don't let me." Barael winks at her and smiles, and holds her closer. Something of the embrace falls short. He can never physically have her close enough. He knows what 'close' means, now.
Dandi traces where the sun falls cross Barael's chest, her smile warmer than the beam that caresses his skin.
"Wake up, Sleepy Head. There's some small chance there is something left of breakfast and at least one of us is hungry." She laughs, gathering herself together, to presentable.
She helps him ready as well, a leisurely task that eventually sees them out the door.
"What would you like to do first? We can fly to see the Kings upon the Storval Stairs, or visit the market. I think our days grow sh....!!!"
Halfway down the steps, she turns in a moment, nearly running into him in her hurry. Her face flames a briliant shade of scarlet, though she hides it well within his shirt.
"I just realized. I forgot to cast the spell."
"You didn't forget." Barael takes her hand, and places another on his stomach, suppressing its rumbles. "And, yes, we're in need of some sustenance. Fondo makes a mean sausage twist and egg, if he has the proper seasonings."
As the last of the preparations are completed, the party gets together for one more meeting prior to departure for Korvosa in the morning. It is the morning of Othday Rova 13, 4707 and the last day of crafting for some. In case it helps, here's my post on what’s going on in Korvosa. Of course some things have changed since then, but that is still a decent overview.
One of the changes that Eries talks about is the increase of troops. The fear of a Shaonti invasion has resulted in more troops overall and a few more Gray Maidens. Initially those troops were shifted more to the walls, but with the new influx they’ve been able to backfill to cover the city properly once again. It does mean it’s difficult getting past the gates however.
Eries says the best way in - for her - is through Old Korvosa. It is less defended from the outside and she has a few ‘rat runs’ to the old city that would make it easy to get you in to the main areas of Korvosa. Of course the party also has many magics they could utilize to enter the city.
You are in a scry-safe zone (attempts see nothing but a fog) and no one is scrying on you now. Deyanira also notes that no one can eavesdrop through the door. She's also covering the party with an illusion of the group having an entirely different conversation - just in case.
You are about as protected as you can be I think.
"Ah yes. Tis almost time. Incursions must no longer wait. What mansion do you mean? Shall I ask Deyanira to prepare the space with wards? Your magicks joined shall surely keep our conversation safe."
He looks at Briar a moment. "Tell me devotee of magic's source: what glimpse can you of our near future gain? What truths from ether can you pluck?"
Briar looks at Fondo, then Deyanira.
"I have no magics of such protection. I assumed that you had it covered," Briar says, looking around to confirm what was done.
"As for the future, I know little save that our magics are stronger now than they have ever been; I am confident of our abilities; The Queen's head will roll, and magic shall be a large part of her undoing," Briar says, grabbing a grape or two while he waits for others.
* * *When others are there* * *
"It is time for us to return to Korvosa. What has not been yet fully discussed is our manner for entry and our initial goals. I have heard," Briar looks at Barael, "...that the Rat has secured passage from the Rakshashas into the Korvosa. However, it remains uncertain whether they are trustworthy, and even if they are trustworthy, we do not know if they are compromised," Briar says, laying things out.
"I think it was cunning of Barael to agree to such...even as a diversion or a way to get our enemies to mistime our approach," Briar nods at Barael's sly nature. "It is clever since we do not need the Rakshasha's aid in entering the city unnoticed. We have our own magics for that."
"To me, the first time of business would be securing the DollWarrens, if they still stand. We will want a base of operations. I would Hallow it against the Queen's forces if we can find time...buttress it in other ways, if not," Briar states.
"However, those are my needs and concerns. What are yours? Lay them out so we can prioritize and focus."
Briar waits for others to speak.
Fondo arises from his now customary perch at the window, which sits open, morning light streaming in. "It's to be a working breakfast, then? Kahve, Brov? Kako?" He walks over to Deyanira at her desk, where she is putting the finishing touches on a scroll. "Tis almost time to join our lad again, my friend." He lays a hand on her shoulder, giving an encouraging squeeze.
"We've many options to discuss, but too I'd know what purpose we all share. To kill a queen is mayhap not the core of what we do. We'll be the stronger if we know what ends we share."
Deyanira smiles, delayed and dazed, as she concentrates on ongoing spells.
Majenko plays with a grape for a while, rolling it around his body dextrously before throwing it in the air and flying up to eat it.
"Are the DollWarrens any safer than the rest of the city or any less likely to have been compromised? Have we scried upon it yet? Don't get me wrong though, I would be fine with staying there? "
Nikolay and Shadow's Death speak almost in unison. "Yes, we mean to kill the queen. We will also destroy the dragon's teeth or at least secure them from further use." Nikolay pauses to look at Briar.
"I will see her dead." her gaze flicks around the room taking them all in in turn, though they linger longer on some faces than others.
"Other than wishing us all well and happy on the other side, I have not considered past her death." It is *mostly* true, and close enough for now.
"As I can see it, we have several rabbit runs into the city. Glorio and Eries both suggest entering through Old Korvosa, so there's that." Barael turns to Briar, trying to sip at the hot kahve quickly enough to be able to speak as he finishes turning.
"Nik brings up a good point. If we're to return to the DOLLWarrens, then a good look around is worth while, right? If our eyes get a sense that the Warrens have been compromised, then I'd know how compromised. If Rolth is lurking about, I'd aim at him, and cleanse our old grounds."
"Where exactly are Cressida, Vencarlo, and Neolanduse, again? I've been a bit distracted as of late." Barael smiles and looks down at his cup.
"I think we might need to be in town to get in touch with Vencarlo and Cressida. I would like to get in fast and hit the grey maidens hard right from the beginning, but I think we'll need to work undercover for some time first."
"We'll need to drum up support from the old guard and for that we should do something brash. One thing we could maybe use is the site of the Great Tower. That would be a way for the old guard to fight for their home. "
"Do we have some sort of secret code with Cressida or Vencarlo? Some way to alert them of our presence in a subtle way?"
"Dandi, do you have any spiders that you know in the Warrens? Maybe something big enough to scry?"
"Where exactly are Cressida, Vencarlo, and Neolanduse, again? I've been a bit distracted as of late." Barael smiles and looks down at his cup.
The party doesn't know actually. You've only ever done one, fairly brief, communication with them via scry (Vencarlo was concerned about security) and only done a Sending once to Cressida and Vencalro. That Sending, as they all are, was brief and also on another topic.
More or less you said you were prepping and coming two weeks ago and then never contacted them again. Charlie could do sendings today, at least to Cressida, and still have his full complement of spells ready for tomorrow.
Also, Dandilion doesn't have anyone you can scry on in the DollWarrens. The only way, other than being there, you have to view the DollWarrens, I think, is Clairvoyance. For that to work, you'll need to be ~800 feet away - in the city or graveyard or possibly the nearby Vault (Eries could get you to a spot close enough).
Clairvoyance requires Dandilion or possibly Deyanira too (though she does not currently have the spell).
Remember the house and the warrens are separated by a ~350' tunnel that Briar sealed with stone shape before you left. Well, partially sealed anyway. :)
"I, for one, want to reclaim our base. If we are going to tackle the tough chore of taking on the Queen, then we will need a quiet place to hole up once in a while. If the DollWarrens are it, that is preferable," Briar iterates.
Briar breathes deeply, acknowledging the ease at which his next words will be taken negatively.
"Not to be flippant, but I worry about what Vencarlo and Cressida can bring to us other than information. I would keep them in the loop, but I worry about coordinating things with them...it may lead to unnecessary loss of life. In addition, worry about spreading our resources thin in protecting them."
Briar speaks again, still pondering all the variables, but trusting his companions to find fault with any plan.
"If it were me, I would fly to Korvosa in wind form at night. We would find a quiet place near the DollWarrens so that Dandi would scry thoroughly within. She knows it well enough."
Briar pauses.
"From there, I will teleport a strike team within the DollWarrens to confirm that there is nothing within. If it is compromised, we will go to plan B...I suspect it is within the Warrens. However, even that decision must be weighed with the danger we may bring to others around us."
Briar pauses, looking for responses.
"It's good to worry, Long-Lived. It means you've grown attached." Barael smiles at Briar as he starts to ponder strategy. Barael stands up and leans over the table, pursing the tablecloth to form the rough shape of the walls of Korvosa. He takes several napkins and lines them up, creating the water crossing that separates Old from New.
Flipping a plate, and setting it in 'Old Korvosa'. "That's Glorio's." He takes two of the fruit bowls, and places them accordingly. "That's Castle Korvosa, and that's the Citadel." He takes the kahve pot, and sets it down as best he remembers. "That'd be the Harrow House." He steps back, admiring his shoddy work, then turns back to Briar.
"We stand against an army, likely, but it's scattered around the town. There's an uppity in the mix, grey maidens galore, a grand piano of a mage, and the queen herself." Barael picks up an apple and a banana, and holds them up. "We count Vencarlo and Cressida as allies, nothing more. If they seek to bring down the queen, and restore Korvosa, they put their piece on the board, same as us." He sets them down, haphazardly.
"We saved Vencarlo once. We supported Cressida in our beginnings. If anything, they support us now, as we return with Seri. They won't listen if we tell them to hide away, but I think they'll listen and do as they choose when we tell them what we're going to do. But to know that, we need their information."
"What you propose, Briar, gets us more information, so I'm all for it."
"We saved Vencarlo once. We supported Cressida in our beginnings. If anything, they support us now, as we return with Seri."
Briar freezes, as if finally figuring out something that had been bothering him for a while, but had finally formed the idea. He gives Barael an easy smile of thanks.
"You just reminded me of something: we have not one, but two big secrets...or, I hope we do anyway. One, is that we have Serithtial. The second is what Serithtial can do. We had to jump through the eyes of needles and pay homage to the gasbags of desert to get our answers. It is not likely that The Queen knows our purpose at Scarwall...nor that we succeeded. That's what I hope anyway."
Briar opines a bit more.
"We might gain advantage by keeping Seri as secret for as long as possible...or more of an advantage letting it known throughout the City that Seri is there. Maybe all of us should carry a copy of the sword...just to cause confusion."
"If you wanted to keep Seri a secret, you wouldn't have given Her to Fondo." Barael falls back into his chair, cup of kahve saluting his brov. He manages to spill a quarter of the cup on his sleeve. He pats himself dry, waiting for the others to reply.
"So what, exactly is Seri capable of? I like the idea of working independently. The queen will have three disparate problems to address. Do any of us have large scale illusions that we can use to confuse the enemy?"
"If you wanted to keep Seri a secret, you wouldn't have given Her to Fondo." Barael falls back into his chair, cup of kahve saluting his brov. He manages to spill a quarter of the cup on his sleeve. He pats himself dry, waiting for the others to reply.
Niklolay chuckles and also salutes Fondo.
"I like Briar's plan. I'm not one for diving blindly back into the city."
Nikolay looks over Barael's map and can't help poking over a napkin wall.
"We should maintain connections with Vencarlo and Cressida, but I agree we share little. Their connections to us are known and they risk ending up as Ishani did. I find it unlikely any of us could keep any secrets if we befell a similar fate."
"Also, I don't believe we have a plan to share as of yet aside from our return. Do we plan on storming the castle? Will we slip in at night and hope to catch her asleep? Do we hope to catch her out in the open or lure her into a trap? Hopefully the answer will be more obvious once we are back in the city."
Fondo listens, taking in the various whims and stratagems of his companions. He gives Barael a gentle punch and playfully wounded look at his remark about secrecy. Serithtiel flicks in and out of its magical hiding place. I've taken pains, at cost.
"I had thought my purpose Ileosa's death. But end it cannot be, for murder's stain is deepest when it's purpose in itself. We met for such a thing, to get revenge on Lamm. But spite is not our lot in life. It eats away the soul."
"I fight to free those who would roam in light of day, so that my friends and loves may realize the good that's in your destinies."
He considers the discussion of allies and the Warrens. "It's kind of you to guard our allies' health, but they are fighters in this war. We owe them choice, not cosseting. We know the Queen responds to shows of force by redirecting troops. It may be Cressida and friends can draw the guard away when we do finally make our strike. No doubt they also harbor much intelligence which shall our cause advance. We need them, as we ever have. And too, I'd know what they intend once Ileosa's head's in hand."
"And as for our old home... I don't agree, though I'll abide if you will hear me out. It's far from where our allies stand. Old Korvosa's shores. The Vaults, where Eries rules the roost, and which can get us anywhere. They could as well safe refuge be."
He breaths. "We know not where Cressida rests, but bound as one with Eries, her forces would advantage hold." He shakes his head. "We know the south swarms with undead. No allies there of note. Nay, sorry. I feel it makes no sense. But pray, convince me what advantage it would yield to justify the cost."