"That is why a touch of power can be so very useful."
Indio takes a moment to clean everyone who needs it up with prestidigitation.
"Ah.. yes.. silly me. Thank you."
You enter Longroad's Coffeehouse... there are only two customers inside, and one of them is slumped over asleep. The other is pacing and quietly talking to himself.. as if rehearsing a speech or some such thing.
You hear a female voice.. "Be right out!"
Not long after, a blond halfling bounds out.. drying her hands. "Welcome..." She sees Rexus, he nods.. she continues ".. old friends.." She glances around to see who's around.
"Let me set you up with a proper halfling first breakfast!" Her gaze then falls on Bastargrae... she shoots Rexus a "meaningful" look - who shrugs unaware of the issue.
"Master Sweetgulp, yes? ... How lovely to see you again." as she turns away to load up a couple serving trays with drinks and pastry.
Indio, ever the gentleman, bows low to the lady, but not so low as to inadvertently give offence due to the difference in height.
"Indio Black at your service my lady, a pleasure."
Given half a chance, he will also kiss her hand.
Laria smiles... and allows Indio to take her hand.
She throws a bun at the sleeping man... "Watch the counter!"
Then turns back to you as she grabs one of the trays.
"Come.. let's catch up on old times in my office. Get that other tray for me would you?"
Once all are inside, she kicks the door closed.
"So? How'd it go?" Rexus flashes a big smile.
Laria then looks you over as she sets the tray of coffee cream and sugar down. "And who do we have here? Masters Black and Voralius, of course.. and Master Sweetgulp" she narrows her eyes.. "We've had a brief encounter." She looks to Asha and Idril.
...Get that other tray for me would you?"
Idril sighed at that, but picked up the tray in an expert one hand move and carried it into the office. She wondered idly if she would ever be able to quit her waitress job...
And who do we have here?
Idril dipped a brief courtsey.
"I am Idril Ssethan, waitress at the Amethyst Apple."But if I seem familiar, well I used to be a member of the Opera. You might have seen me there, back when we had one." She said sadly.
Asha curtsies at the proprietess. "Good morning, my lady. I am called Asha." She shoots a look at Rexus, remembering his discomfort at the topic of slavery. "I am in the employ of Master Morvius Aulorian."
A strained smile crossed the gnome's narrow features.Now,now,Miss Longroad...no need for animosity.I am here on business,not to actively antagonize you.
He gestured to the company he kept with his cane, My associates and I are simply taking respite from the activities of our....Urban Adventurer Club.They all suggested your establishment--I simply came along.
Indio raises an eyebrow at the clearly somewhat strained atmosphere between the two.
I wonder, could it be simple passion for the preferred brew? Perhaps I shall forego my normal abstinence from coffee in this case. She appears a fearsome foe.
She shakes a finger toward Idril.. "Mmm. Thought I'd seen you. I do enjoy the opera from time to time... or did, I suppose. You most definitely have the impetus to drive out Thrune."
She nods listening to Asha.. "Oh Professor Aulorian, is it?.. I've not met the man, but I know of him through his students."
"Pleasure to meet you both."
A slight smirk appears on Laria's face.. maintaining the narrowed eyes as Bastargrae speaks. "Oh.. you crafty devil.. make me out to be the crazy woman. Come in acting all... nonchalantly charming, and not ranting about teas superiority over coffee." She winks.
"Indio Black, and.. Erodel? Voralius.. If I may ask.. I'd like to hear more about you, and what drives.. all of you.. Idril, of course, I understand the force that compels her, but what interest have you...in rebuilding the Silver Ravens?"
"..any troubles of note at the Fair Fortune Livery?"
Indio smiles and reaches into one of his pockets, retrieving a coin.
He does make sure to avoid the pocket where he keeps the double-headed coin.
Then he slowly lets the coin dance over his knuckles for a moment.
"In this world, there are few people who do not believe in something, for me, that concept is chance, chance and luck."
Flipping the coin into the air, Indio catches it and sends it spinning on the tabletop.
"It was one or both of those concepts that made me meet these fine people, and so I risked my life on a coin toss.
Lady luck commands, and I, humble gambler that I am cannot refuse her command."
He then directs his most charming smile at Laria, and once more kisses the back of her hand.
"Besides which, what kind of churlish man denies a lady's command?"
Inside, Jacques does sigh a little, keeping up Indio's persona sometimes meant risking disappointing people who might better appreciate his more dedicated persona.
He had no wish for this to happen here, and could only hope that Laria might be susceptible to his, or rather, Indio's charm.
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Erodel nods acknowledging Laria's question. "Rebuilding the Silver Ravens? Hell, I don't think they're gone, but yes I'm interested in bringing them back to prominence."
Erodel goes silent for a moment before admitting, "Beyond that, I have a few personal reasons....you haven't heard of Alastair Voralius before have you?"
"A relative I take it, Indio guesses, and I would assume a former or perhaps even current member of the Silver Ravens?
Are you perhaps hoping to find him through the Ravens?"
He then directs his most charming smile at Laria, and once more kisses the back of her hand.
"Besides which, what kind of churlish man denies a lady's command?"
"An excellent question, good sir."
To Erodel she responds, "No I haven't... I'm sorry."
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Erodel turns to Indio, "That obvious, huh?"
"My family has history with the Silver Ravens, going back to my great-grandfather, back during the Chelish Civil War. My uncle, Alastair, was supposedly a member, or least that's what some family friends had said. Alastair would never admit to it himself though."
"Uncle Alastair went missing over a week ago, that's why I went to the protest, apparently to meet up with Rexus."
Indio smiles softly at Laria as he smooths his moustache.
"And one I cannot answer, as I would of course never do so."
Turning to Erodel, Indio covers his mouth and chuckles softly.
"It was a logical conclusion, and if you are a gambler, you need wit as well as charm. I do believe I can claim without hyperbole that I posses both."
"Are you hoping that you can learn more of your uncle's fate through this?"
"Well my friend, it is far too early to give up hope yet.
You may indeed have the answers you seek right under your very nose at this moment.
All we need now is the time to see through the final obstacle before we find clarity."
"If I may ask.. I'd like to hear more about you, and what drives.. all of you ...in rebuilding the Silver Ravens?"
Asha is at first hesitant to speak, but builds up courage as the others share their views. "I know what it is like to have no freedom, no say in what happens to you. And... the way things are going now, I think before long many more of us will be slaves like me. Maybe not in name, but being subject to a tyrannical rule is almost the same. And... if there is a chance for me to gain my freedom..." She looks down, leaving her thought unfinished. She didn't want to me ungrateful to Master Aulorian, but she did long to be something other than property, to be a whole person. Master Aulorian was a good man, but who was to say what would happen in a few months or a few years? What if he died, or if he sold her to someone else? Someone cruel, or harsh? She felt like a caged bird who dreams of flying, and at this moment that dream was very strong within her.
Indio reaches out and takes one of Asha's hands in his own gloved ones.
"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."
Laria is stunned. "My dear... I am part of the Bellflower Network. We liberate slaves... that is.. until this week. Barzillai has stepped things up.. most of my agents have bunkered down or've fled the city. But.. The chance will come. I swear it."
"Master Sweetgulp... I'm filled to the brim with anticipation... waiting to hear what has compelled you to join your Urban Adventurer's Club."
Bastargrae listened intently to the others motivations for participating in this venture.He nodded as he reached a resolution. I'll admit my reason for participating in the protest this morn wasn't nearly as noble. I was simply putting my foot down as a merchant and an individual--I pride myself on being neutral in certain matters such as politics and morality but sometimes we must take sides. Not only for the good of oneself but for everyone else. I believe I'll accomplish more taking an actual hand in things than putting my head down and going along with things as they stand.
The gnome tea merchant rapped his cane upon the floor for emphasis.When I read those inane Proclamations tacked to my door,I was right torn. Having to put a portrait of that dreadful brat monarch within my one and business or be fined.Told this I couldn't have my tea until certain times?! Absolutely not. And the final straw had to be banning mint and declaring only uncultured heathens partook in it? NO. I not only attended,I thumbed my nose at the same time by selling mint tea to my fellow protesters. Which nearly got me beaten like a side of tough meat by those butchers hiding in the crowd calling themselves the Cherish Citizens. If it hadn't been for Erodel or the others,id have been clapped in irons or worse!
The gnome merchant,eyes glittering fiercely with passion,turned to regard his fellow adventurers. As Sir Indio Blake said,tis the gods-given rights of all sentient beings to be independent and free to choose our own lives. I knew there were certain.... distasteful things to choosing to settle in a country founded by an empire of devil-worshippers,slavery,and backstabbing self-interest,but I made the most of it by moving to Kintargo,which was mostly free of such things.I will not allow for this city to become another cesspit like every other Cherish colony dotting the Inner Sea! I was born and raised in Wrastlebark and I left because the self-propelled king was more or less handing my people's home to the Thrune and it's agents. I couldn't bear to see that occur so I left to carve out my own place in this world--and I'll be damned if I'll let the same happen to Kintargo!
He puffed out his chest,swiping at the tears prickling the edges of his eye s as he poured his heart out.So if that means reviving these Silver Ravens,then so be it. I'll fight by your sides if it means I can bring back the Kintargo I remembered when I first came to its shores. All I have to lose is my livelyhood,my business,and my life. For my home,for Kintargo,and bringing down the insidious House of Thrune and it's agents,that's worth the price!
"Mhmm. I'm convinced." She looks to Rexus... "You've done well, Rexus." he nods.
"Strength and vision, passion and compassion, guile and wit...."
"I have a bunkroom upstairs you are free to use if and whenever needed. Also.. below this building are tunnels and chambers.. which you will be able to use as a headquarters until you find better... I call it the Wasp Nest. There is one thing I'd like you to do for me first. A contact of mine, named Nan, was using a room down there to stow some supplies. He went down not long ago to check on them and I've not seen him come up.. I'm hoping he's just laying low. I'd go check on him myself, but I need to remain here.. waiting on other agents to check in...."
Indio lets go of Asha's hand and frowns as he smooths his moustache.
To him, it seemed likely that there might be more trouble brewing already.
However, aside from the frown, which he is quick to remove, he doesn't let on to his concern.
"Well now, as we have already established, I would never deny a request from a lady, so let us go and carry out this task."
Idril nodded.
"Of course. I will go as well to look for your friend." She said, rewrapping a loose scarf around her shoulders again.
"Well... bunkroom is up here if you need to stash this or that for now...."
She bounds up onto a table on the other side of the room, and yanks a little ring in the ceiling... a trap door opens, and a telescoping wooden stair slides down..."Heads up!" with lethal speed.
"The trap door going down is in the pantry over here." She jerks a thumb toward the wall behind her. "Whenever you're ready.. don't mean to rush ya."
Rexus wishes you all luck, and gives you the coffer and contents he'd offered. "I... need sleep. Once I'm well-rested, I'll begin working on these documents." He heads up the steps to the bunkroom.
Indo bows a little to Erodel and winks.
"We should go in order of martial competence, just in case."
"Secret door straight ahead as you come down" She points west as she sparks a lantern.. "I'm sure you'd spot it quick, but I'll save you the time." She follows Indio.
The basement is about 30 by 40 and contains large sacks of beans, cooking ingredients, and general supplies. There are torch sconces but none are lit. Laria pries at a seam in the wall, and a hidden door swings open.
She scoots back to the steps up.
"Bake to baking.. I'll leave this unlatched... " she pauses on the steps "all good on lighting?"
Ahem. Before we plunge headfirst into the unknown yet again,shouldn't we gird ourselves with our newfound spoils? Especially if it helps those of us less martially inclined?
Asha follows the rest, hoping that this new errand will be quick enough to allow her to get home before her master wakes. At Laria's question she nods quickly, lighting her magical stone to demonstrate. The talk of martial competence and marching order unnerves her, so she asks quickly before Laria leaves. "Mistress, should we expect trouble?"
..."all good on lighting?"
Idril nodded.
"Oh, yes of course." she said and waived a hand. Several Dancing Lights sprung into being, shedding light into the area around her.
Snatching up the cloak of elvenkind and wrapping it around himself like a protective blanket,grabbing at the handheld crossbow they'd recovered and loading it with bolts with deft hands,he scurried after his bigger companions.....I suppose not,he muttered[/b]
There were probably more rodents of unusual size and foul temperament or perhaps mites or goblins! Or the fool they were checking up on slipped and broke his leg on a misstep and was lying in a heap unconscious or dead...
Laria responds to Asha as she ascends the rest of the steps "Eh... certainly possible.", and shuts the trap door.
As Erodel steps through the secret door, he finds a hallway running left and right. The air is damp.. wet stone, faint smell of mildew and rot. In the dim light passing through the door, he can see (as his eyes adjust) the end of the hall to his right ten feet away.
The reaction from Indio after Laria's less than comforting last words is to quickly retrieve his handkerchief and cough into it, to hide the quick smile said comment provoked from him.
As Erodel leads you down the hall.. (with Asha's stone, and Idril's floating trio of magic light illuminating the area), you see the cavern widens to the east.. a pier and underground pool. On the west wall you see two rough holes have been knocked open.. providing access to the chamber beyond. One opening a few feet from you, the second.. forty feet further.
Asha advances cautiously, looking around with curiosity.
Further out in the water is a statue.. which appears to be in the center of the underground pool. You can also now see there are stairs leading down further south.. at the end of the hallway.
Indio points his cane towards the figure he spotted in the water.
"I surely hope this is not who we seek. If so, we may not only have bad news for our proprietress, but may also be seeking a killer."
Indio raises an eyebrow.
"Impressive eyesight master Voralius. I had missed that little detail.
So he did not drown, or alternatively did not JUST drown.
Best keep an eye out, lest something jump us as well."
Idril cautiously stepped out onto the dock, trying to get a better view with her Dancing Lights.
"Um, still not seeing it. Not that I'm complaining."
"What is a statue of Calistria doing down here...?" Asha wonders aloud. She takes a few steps to her left to try and illuminate more of the space.