"I'm glad you're all doing fine," Diana replies when she looks back at Denario.
"It's been quite a while since we've been to Haggard's, hasn't it? Sure, I'd love to go."
Oh, to be young again.
"Okay, bye-bye dear!" Theandra waves at Allyph when the half-elf leaves.
Theandra shakes her head at Baer. "No no no, don't go to Holywood Upstairs Mage's Clinic. I've heard dreadful things about that place. They apparently force students to dance and sing while casting spells. I don't think that would suit your style, Baer."
"Well, there's the Anomanexus College," Theandra tells Baer, "which unlike the Acadamae teaches non-specialized wizards. Though I'm not sure what the requirements are to be allowed into the college."
When you exit the Three Rings Tavern, there's no sign of Allyph. You cross the street, and there's still no sign of her. Looking over your shoulder, you conclude she's probably not around. You quickly turn the corner, and run into an alley. You wonder if the half-elf's perhaps following you while invisible, and decide to take a detour.
After spending half a day taking a detour, something you felt was necessary to shake off Allyph (if she was indeed following you), you arrive at Blythe's house. You knock on the door, and patiently wait as you hear some hasty footsteps inside.
The door then opens, and there stands Blythe. She's wearing a simple green dress, and has her hair in a low ponytail.
"Hi!" Blythe says, and her eyes grow slightly as you mention good news. "Did you ask?"
"Oh, pardon me! Come in, come in!" Blythe quickly steps aside to let you in. You notice Pooky sits on the back of the couch, and stares at you. The kitten looks a little bit taller than last time you saw him.
[b]"By the way, just now you sounded surprised, while looking outside. Something bad out there?"{/b]
Baer eats and thinks. She sees others doing things and stuff, but doesn't know what she wants to do. She's lost, but won't admit it.
She watches as Allyph goes off to do fun and important things. In her lighter moments, she assumes Denario is doing the same.
"Anomanexus College..."
"Aroma Nexus? Is that where the all the smells gather?" Baer asks, wondering why she hadn't heard of the college before. "That's where they teach the deady arts of smellcraft and whiffery? I'll need a new skunk familiar, I bet."
Baer chortles into her breakfast.
I'm hilarious.
Diana looks down. "It really scared me when they tried to get in here..."
Theandra, not understanding Baer's humor, tries to explain again. "You probably know the Academae has a primary focus on conjuration, despite teaching all eight schools of magic. It also forces you to pass a conjuration exam, in order to graduate. The Anomanexus College doesn't have a focus, and doesn't force you to learn about a particular school."
Baer returns Theandra's look.
What?
"Okay fine. I'll go check out the AromaNexus place," Baer says, finishing off her breakfast.
Baer looks to her companions.
"I still need work...if you hear of anything, please let me know," Baer says uncertainly.
With that, she goes to find Anomanexus College and see what it takes to apply, the costs, and if it might help her in her understanding of magic.
I should go back to practicing law too. People love lawyers.
You inform about what it takes to apply, the costs, and if it might help you in your understanding of magic.
"Let me first introduce myself. My name's Gustav Bodrick. I'm the headmaster of this college. For you to apply, we'll need to test your proficiency with magic. That way we'll know what your current skill level is, and we can adept your training to it."
"Students pay a hundred gold pieces a month, and are required to spend a certain amount of time here during the day. However, if they're in employment or have other obligations, arrangements can be made."
"If it might help you in your understanding of magic? Well... that's entirely up to you, my dear."
The headmaster gives you a moment to let the information sink in. He then adds "Would you like a tour, miss? You'll get a taste of how we do things here."
Mavor grins as he walks into Blythe's house, seemingly humoured by her reactions.
As he sits down he picks up the kitten Pooky, starts patting him then looks up at Blythe and smiles.
"I indeed asked Theandra. She needed to give it some thought after I asked her last night, but this morning she said she could use another waitress. Though she wants to meet you in person of course before she hires you, I don't think that that will be a trouble right?"
"We can go this afternoon whenever you want to, or at dinnertime if you would prefer that more. Though I'll have to warn you, I've got one half-elf who is already inquiring me about you... A bit of a gossip girl I'd reckon." He grins, probably seeing Blythe turn red.
After Blythe's response Mavor's look and glance turn a little more serious.
"I've got one more question for you though, have you ever seen some shady looking fellows in the tavern where you work now? Your boss seemed terribly anxious last night as I recall and he kept staring at the door. I think he was worried about who might come in."
As you expected, Blythe flushes red when you mention the gossip girl half-elf. Blythe lets go of you, looking a bit flustered. "Ah... Yes... Uhm, I see..."
Blythe looks away for a moment. When she turns back to you the flush is still visible, but Blythe's able to continue talking without stammering. "Dinnertime may be inconvenient, as the customers will be pouring in around that time. Let's go in an hour or two?"
The look in Blythe's eyes darkens a bit at Mavor's last question. "There was one, he came to talk to the boss about an hour after you'd left. The boss seemed troubled when approached by him, and they went into the boss' office."
Blythe gestures with her hands as she tries to figure out how to word something. "I... I think I saw that man before. His face was so familiar, but I can't place hi..."
Her eyes suddenly widen, and she seems rather shocked. "He was the man that started a bar brawl a while ago! Oh my... Mavor, he was arrested by the guards then!"
"He just... looked different," Blythe continues softly. "Different hair, and different clothes..."
Denario shakes his head with a smile.
"But you barricaded firmly and the riots are gone."
He jokingly pats her head.
"I'm glad you're safe."
Baer seems reluctant to take the tour, wondering if she could pass an aptitude test at the moment. She clenches her fist around her quarterstaff then release it and her anger.
She bows nicely to Gustav.
"But, of course, I would like to see such," Baer says smoothly. She eyes bulged at the costs per month, but realizes that if she keeps getting lucky jobs from Cressida, she might be able to afford a few months of training. She free hand travels down to her pouch that has her newly bought pearl...something that could have purchased nearly a year of training.
"Yes, I would like a tour," Baer says. 'I have some understanding of the basics, of course...and some seems innate to me, as well. That is the part that I can't quite explain. Some of my magic comes from my study...but other magics come from within, from something I can't describe. I seek answers to that."
Baer pauses, a sense of relief coming after finally saying something that had been troubling her for a while.
"I see to control the second part...to understand it so I might master it."
You're standing with your back to the window when Diana freezes, and whispers slowly. "Denario... the same man's now standing in front of the window... He doesn't look like the type of customer I get..."
Gustav shows you various parts of the college, including bedrooms, study rooms, a large library, and several classrooms. During the tour, he continues the conversation with you.
"Understanding the origins of one's innate magic often helps people understand their powers themselves. It's also a way of learning more about yourself. Many innate casters who don't understand the nature of their powers end up with an identity crisis."
"We have many resources that may help you identify the nature of your powers, you can find them in our library. The teachers here may also be able to help you with that. Do however remember that, even if you never learn the nature of your powers, the key to learning to control your powers is practice," Gustav says as he comes to a stop in front of another room.
The gnome eyes Baer's staff and other gear. He then points into the room, which is empty. "You look like you usually apply your magic in combat, that's why I brought you to this specific room. This is one of our training rooms. If you wish, we can get right to the proficiency test?"
Denario's observing eye looks deep into hers, focusing on the reflection in hers to observe the man behind him.
What kind of bloke is that?
"You say you've seen him before, when and in what context?"
When sure the guy won't toss in the window, he makes smooth gestures as if to dance in private with her, walzing out of sight.
"Follow my lead, we'll have to leave his sight."
Baer agrees with Gustav agreeing with her.
"Yes, as I said," Baer snorts, "I seek to control the second part...to understand it so I might master it."
Proficiency test? Sounds like a challenge.
Baer studies Gustav, wondering if she should take the challenge or leave. She snorts a few times, her anger building at the stupidity of it all. Finally, she sloughs off her backpack and grabs her quarterstaff in two hands.
"Sure, I do use magic in combat...but that's easy. I'll take your challenge."
Baer steps into the room.
"It's the same guy that passed by the shop earlier, the one that distracted me," Diana tells you.
Diana follows your lead, and while you dance out of the man's sight you're able to catch a glimpse of his face: it's one of the thugs that was present at the knivesies games at Eel's End.
"Give me a moment, there's someone else who also recently joined. He's also into combining magic and melee. While you spar, I'll sit down and do my observations."
The old gnome leaves for a moment, and returns with a human man in his early twenties. The man has halfling black hair, brown eyes, and is about six feet tall. He wears a breastplate, and has a heavy steel shield on his back. There's no sign of a weapon.
"Hi, I'm John," the man says, and gives Baer a polite nod.
After you've had a moment to introduce yourself, Gustav urges you and John to enter the training room. "Give me a moment to activate the room's protection... We've placed some spells on it that prevent the room itself from taking damage, and converts all damage taken inside the room into nonlethal damage... Casualties inside the college give us a bad reputation, you see."
Gustav speaks the protection's command word, schild, and you can sense some kind of magic starts working. Meanwhile, John's taken his shield from his back.
"Of you go!" Gustav announces.
John opens his free hand, and a longsword made of blue energy appears in it. He then takes a stance that shows he's ready to attack if you move up to him.
"Do your combat preparations, Baer" John tells you. "Then we'll truly start."
Round 1
Baer's first instinct is to get angry at the man, John, who would dare challenge her, even here. However, after a few snorts from her nose, she forgives him and readies her mind for combat. She takes to spinning her staff in a few sweeping patters, her hands twirling and setting again and again.
She notes that John has patiently readied for her combat, if nothing else, she appreciates his honor and lets a small smile seep from her lips.
This one has honor.
She, while she spins, casts Shield and imbues her quarterstaff with magic (+1 now), giving her own weapon a glow to match her opponents.
Baer nods to John that she is ready.
When you nod you're ready to start, John's smile becomes wider. He immediately takes a 5-foot step forward, and throws his magic sword at you.
The magic sword hits the floor next of you, and dissipates. John clenches his now empty hand, then opens it again. A new magic longsword appears in it.
Denario sees the man, Crud, one of those goons. If he's followed me here, it's likely others could have been following the others as well.
"Looks like an unhealthy, shady type.
I could leave and he'll probably follow me, leaving you opportunity to either lock up or hide somewhere."
She lets go of you, and you see the concern on her face. "Will you be alright? If that man's out to hurt you..."
From the corner of your eyes you see the man slowly moves away from the window. Given your new position inside Diana's shop, he may no longer be able to clearly see you.
"Some lowlife who keeps himself busy with dangerous games better suited for a barbrawl. Guess he's shifting attention to new "prey", can't let him hang around here now can i?", he winks with a rogue-ish smile.
Round 2
Baer sidesteps the longsword, remembering her training.
Is that how you want to play?
She steps 5' closer and casts a Ray of Acid at John.
touch to hit;
damage.
If you decide to step outside now, you'll be able to see the man slip into an alley.
Gustav snickers. "Don't worry, John. This room's protection ensures you'll only go unconscious if she beats you up."
A frown appears on John's face as he glances over at the headmaster, but he quickly returns his focus to you.
John charges forward, temporarily foregoing some of his defense to get in a better swing.
The attack knocks the breath out of you, but like Gustav predicted it leaves no lethal damage.
Round 3
Baer takes one on the chin, a nice strike by John. She retaliates with anger.
touch to hit;
damage.
touch to hit;
damage.
Bringing his hands together, John creates a new magic sword. This one's one's the size of a greatsword, and John makes a two-handed swing at you.
The sword hits you hard, and you're knocked out.
...
When you open your eyes again Gustav's standing over you. You feel the lingering residue of healing magic, which has taken away all of your nonlethal wounds.
"You did very well, miss Baer," Gustav says with a big grin. "I'd offer you a hand to get up, but you won't really get up if you'd get on my height."
"Let me," you hear John say, and when you turn your head you see him putting his shield back on his back. He then offers you a hand.
"You made me worry for a second, with that staff of yours," John says.
Gustav nods his head. "Did you notice your shield was useless, John?"
"It was?"
"Huh... So you just dropped it 'cause you wanted to do more damage."
When you're back up, with or without help from John, Gustav thrusts his hand in your direction. "I see great potential in you, Baer. I'd be honored to accept you as a member of our college. Don't feel bad about losing this fight. I'm sure John will be up for a rematch after you've trained some more."
"Of course," John replies to the headmaster, then smiles at you.
"Not my business with him, but his with me it seems. I'll come by some time soon when i've got off time from work."
Denario steps outside.
He won't follow the thug down the alley that much, keeping safe distance.
I'm not pressing my chances.
The safe distance you keep ensures the thug doesn't notice you, but you lose sight of him once you reach the square named Jeggare Circle. Though it's not too hard to figure out which direction the thug took, as there's only a single road leading to Old Korvosa from this square.
Denario keeps his distance and sticks to the shadows as much as he can.
Maybe the ones the others had stabilized have told them we did in fact start the fight.
Baer is struck hard by John...but does not quite fall down, her knees weakening, she strikes out one more time...
to hit;
damage.
...then she falls.
Baer doesn't even have time to enjoy her dreams before she accepts the hand from John.
"Good fight...you hit hard. I should learn the same," Baer says, nursing her lumps.
"I see great potential in you, Baer. I'd be honored to accept you as a member of our college."
Baer smiles weakly, wondering just how much they could have learned about her from her thrashing. She's dumb? She can take a thrashing and won't complain? She'll scare other students into learning?
"I would be honored to come and get thrashed more. It will be much different than the Academy. The didn't like weapons fighting as much there."
Baer pays and returns to the tavern, pondering her new future.
"So you think someone's extorting him perhaps? Or forcing him to retire?"
Mavor looks especially deep in thought as he seems to mull over the possibilities.
I could check the place out tonight. See what sort of man that guy is, give him something to think about. The old Mavor is still in here hehehe.
He then looks up at Blythe who's been staring at him the past minute or two.
"Sorry for that, I was a bit lost in thought there for a moment. Anything you want to do to kill time until we head for the Three Rings Tavern?"
New enforcers have been stationed outside, and you're able to spot at least six of them. None of them is able to spot you.
While you wait outside you see the doors at Eel's End open again, and another thug leaves the ship. Before the thug moves into the direction of North Point, you notice he puts an envelop in one of his jacket's pockets.
You're able to hit John hard before you fall, but he doesn't go down.
"The Academae's filled with dimwits," John replies to you. He scrapes his throat when Gustav gives him a warning glare, and holds up his hand as a way to say goodbye. John then walks off.
"Will you be able to come here daily, or do you have other occupations?" Gustav asks as he escorts Baer to the exit. "Do come when you can. I look forward to see you improve."
------
As you walk back to the tavern you're fully occupied by thoughts about your future. It takes no more than five minutes to get back, given the location of college, and once inside you're approached by Theandra.
"And? What about it, you went to the college?" Theandra asks.
Blythe thinks deeply when you ask for a description of the troubleseeker. "He had half-long blond hair when talking to the boss, but when he caused the bar brawl his hair was short and brown... His face was rather... generic... White skin, and he wasn't remarkably tall or short... There was one distinguishing feature, though. I noticed he had two parallel scars in the palm of his hand."
"Uhm, Mavor? Maaavor? Hello?"
When you snap out of your thoughts, Blythe repeats what she's just told you.
"Hmm... I think I need to clear my mind from all of this, " Blythe replies when you ask her what she wants to do. "I didn't expect my boss to be the victim of some scheme... Mind going for a walk? There's a market at the square north of Eodred Street."
Denario will not move into an area with potential sight of the other guards, while trying a stealth.
Curses...too close, i'll have to do something else.
If there is a sign he himself might be/get noticed, Denario conjures up Ghost Sound, creating the sound of a drunk sailor singing in the opposite direction.
You're easily able to follow the thug, who seems occupied by the clouds, back into North Point. Having no idea he's being followed, the thug takes the main road to Jeggare Circle. From there he moves straight for the North Bridge, which leads out of the city.
The thug talks to the guards at the gate, and they let him pass. You see the thug immediately heads south after passing the gate, heading straight for the area known as the Thief Camp. It's an area not known to be very safe to enter alone, and there's not much to hide behind on the way to the camp.
I'm not going there, that zone's too risky, besides, asking the guards will just put me on suspicion.
Denario will head into the city and look for to inform them.
Mavor stands up and binds his greataxe to his back, easily within reach should the need arise.
"I don't think I'll need this thing today. Or let's hope I don't, the market square at Eodred Street is pretty calm usually. Anything in particular you need from the market?"
Back in his head Mavor searches for any rumours he heard or things he knows about a man fitting the description Blythe gave him.
As a matter of total coincidence, Baer has recently arrived just there.
"And? What about it, you went to the college?" Theandra asks Baer, then turns to wave at Denario.
"Hi! Where've you been, lad? You do realize you have to order twice the food this evening, don't you? I'll never get that tab filled at this rate."
While you and Blythe walk to the market, you're able to recall some rumors of a man that reminds you of the troubleseeker Blythe described. In Old Korvosa, where you live, there used to be a criminal known for his many disguises. His name was Beltias Kreun, but you can't remember if he had the scars Blythe mentioned. Kreun left Korvosa four years ago, escaping local laws by moving to Riddleport, but rumor has it he's recently returned. Though not to his former location in Old Korvosa.
"...and I swear that guy's awful to her," you hear Blythe say when you snap out of your thoughts again, "but she just won't leave him! Can you believe it?"
Blythe looks up at you, most likely expecting you to confirm her amazement about whatever story she's telling about her co-worker. You've meanwhile arrived at the market, which is pretty crowded at this time of the day.
Denario makes a short wave gesture, before taking a seat next to Baer.
"Hey.
Something's up, one of the thugs from The Eel's End was following me today. All the way as staking out a shop i was in, in plain view outside of the window. I followed him back and noticed all the dead guards are replaced. The guy went on the main road to Jeggare Circle. Went out of the city gates and to the thief camp, carrying a letter."
"Will you be able to come here daily, or do you have other occupations?"
Baer shrugs, a worry coming to the fore.
"That, I don't know. I hope to return and find more work. We'll see how my employment goes. I'm not sure what to expect, but as long as that doesn't interfere, I shall be here daily."
Baer thanks Gustav and promises to return soon.
* * *
"Will you be able to come here daily, or do you have other occupations?"
Baer grunts noncommittally, not willing to explain too much to Theandra, not willing to take the woman into her confidence. She nods to Denario.
"Yeah, maybe. We'll see how it goes."
"Good chance they've followed you and the others. With what i saw, i won't be surprised if there'll be an ambush or a seetup in the following days."
"Something's up, one of the thugs from The Eel's End was following me today."
Baer smiles, remembering how the party had survived that encounter.
"All the guards replaced? Wow. They are probably looking to get even with us. We did pretty much own them...I wouldn't be surprised if they tracked us down one by one soon enough. We should go back and make sure of things."
Mavor wanders after Blythe as she does her spice shopping, all the while looking at the stalls himself, sometimes things catch his eye, be it from the unusual merchanidse, the tasty smells and sights of freshly-baked or freshly-roasted bread, pies and meats. He halts at one stall though, a small one with little pieces of jewelry and small pearls.
He stops for a moment, looking to see if Blythe didn't see. He stares a second, then continues on to the next stall as he pushes a thought out of his mind and buys a pair of freshly-baked bread buns with meat and pieces of vegetables in it and approaches Blythe. "I hope you're a little hungry, it is a while past noon already.", he says as he holds out one of the buns for her to eat.
The note:
I was approached this morning by
Uriah, who told me he'd rather not
be involved with missions anymore.
I'm currently looking for someone
else to join you on your next mission.
We'll keep in touch.
C.K.
"She told me to instruct you to dispose of the note after reading it." the man whispers. Unless you have something to say to him, he'll directly leave the tavern.
"Oh, thanks!" She takes the bread bun from you, and directly starts eating. "I love these!"
While you follow Blythe around, you notice a man in the crowd stare at you. He has short black hair, and looks to be of average length. He seems to be observing you, and stands at a distance of twenty or so feet from you.
He then taps her shoulder and gives a quick nod in the man's direction.
"Does that guy look like the man you saw in the tavern? The guy with the short black hair over there?"
Mavor frowns and looks thinking at her. "That guy's been observing us for some time now. Don't be scared, he might just have different business with me, though i don't recognise him."
"Good chance they've followed you and the others. With what i saw, i won't be surprised if there'll be an ambush or a seetup in the following days."
Baer nods as she was thinking pretty much the same thing.
"We should go back and burn down their boats. A few fires here and there and they won't have a base of power."
* * *
Baer reads the note aloud to Denario, but not so anyone else could hear it. Baer frowns.
"Ah, that's too bad. I was beginning to like him," Baer says. "He helped a bit on that boat." Baer tears up the note before burning the piecs. "Hopefully C.K. will send a proper half-orc to round out the brute squad, eh Denario? We need more muscle around here."
Baer smiles as she says the last part.
Denario slightly scratches his bearded chin.
"Well, that was fast. Maybe a little too much action for his taste."
Hopefully C.K. will send a proper half-orc to round out the brute squad, eh Denario? We need more muscle around here.
"Amusing....", he says with a neutral look on his face.
You take a better look at the man, and now recognize him. He's a petty thief from Old Korvosa, who you once overheard bragging about how much money he was able to steal from people who live in richer neighborhoods. That was before you decided to seek him out, distract him, and knock him out to take the money from him. It suddenly occurs to you that was when you found Zellara's card.
Unbeknown to you, the thief couldn't place your face due to the concussion you gave him back then. This is why he was observing you. The moment he does recognize you is painfully clear on his face: the man suddenly becomes slightly pale, stumbles a few steps back, and tries to get away from you as fast as possible. Unless you decide to give chase, the thief quickly blends with the crowd.
"Well that was strange," Blythe mumbles.
Allyph sighs. "My house was a mess. I think people looted it during the riots... I'm glad we can stay here during our employment."
"So what have the two of you been up to?"
Not worth it to chase him down, too many people here and I'm not leaving Blythe alone in the process of doing so.
"He was just an old acquaintance of mine, one who got the bad side of the bargaining tool if you wish. He's no trouble by himself."
Mavor says to assure Blythe. After Blythe made her purchases of spices he looks around in the crowd for the same thief again.
"Well if you've got everything you nee Blythe, we could head back to your house, drop off your groceries and head for the Three Rings right?"
"Hey.
I've been in the city with family and at a friend's. Oddly enough, one of the thugs from the Eel's End had been following me and was stalking outside the window of the shop. I followed him for a bit, he was carrying a letter from that place, they even replaced all the guards that didn't get Uriah's aid. He went out the south gate and headed to the thieves camp. No good, that's for sure."
Baer looks at Allyph as if trying to remember something.
"Didn't you say that we might not see you again? Or was that the other pasty human?" Baer tries to recollect. "You humans all look alike."
Baer listens to a fresher on what Denario has been up to before adding her own tale.
"I went to a new college. I'm pretty sure I'll be attending some classes there. The interview was pretty keen, some human with a longsword knocked me silly...but not before I marked him up good," Baer relates.
"Outside of that, not much is happening," Baer replies, eating another bite of food.