"You all can just split my share." Daud says with a dismissive wave of his hand. When Gaius looks to him he ascerts himself with a simple nod towards the door.
Pyron makes his way to a shop that sells weapons. The shopkeeper does indeed have a masterwork longsword for sale. 315 gp.
Tolenn returns to the temple of Calistria, where she is readily admitted. With a touch of apprehension, she releases Larks, fulfilling Gaius' promise to the man.
Gaius and Daud go to the bar where information flowed so freely was it just yesterday? They enter, the bar's business is slow, both from the hour and the general malaise over the city now. The barmaid you pumped for info last time is nowhere to be seen.
Pyron makes his way to a shop that sells weapons. The shopkeeper does indeed have a masterwork longsword for sale. 315 gp.
Tolenn returns to the temple of Calistria, where she is readily admitted. With a touch of apprehension, she releases Larks, fulfilling Gaius' promise to the man.
Gaius and Daud go to the bar where information flowed so freely was it just yesterday? They enter, the bar's business is slow, both from the hour and the general malaise over the city now. The barmaid you pumped for info last time is nowhere to be seen.
Pyron makes his way to a shop that sells weapons. The shopkeeper does indeed have a masterwork longsword for sale. 315 gp.
Tolenn returns to the temple of Calistria, where she is readily admitted. With a touch of apprehension, she releases Larks, fulfilling Gaius' promise to the man.
Gaius and Daud go to the bar where information flowed so freely was it just yesterday? They enter, the bar's business is slow, both from the hour and the general malaise over the city now. The barmaid you pumped for info last time is nowhere to be seen.
Gaius approaches the proprietor of the tavern.
Two pints, he says, approaching the bar.
Say, the girl that was working here two nights ago--is she in today?
The guy behind the bar shakes his head, greasy hair straying not an inch.
"Off til this evenin' suh. You ain't lookin' fuh trouble, is ya?"
The man's question is asked without malice, almost as though it is his habit when people ask such things.
No, not at all. She was kind to me, and I think I may have something of hers. What was her name again?
Gaius takes a sip, then asks the bartender good-naturedly.
So, how are you holding up with all this scary business on the streets? Where do you sit with all the politics of the realm?
Pyron first attempts to identify the wand before going to the weaponsmith. Cast spell: Detect Magic and uses the skill .
Afterwards, he takes the bag out of the chest, puts it in his belt pouch, and goes to the weaponsmith.
The bartender wipes his forehead with a dirty sleeve, only managing to smear the smudge there around a little. He sighs wearily, looking away from Gaius. "Business has been dreadful, what with people being scared to death of them Hell Knights on the streets. I guess I should be thankful...aftuh this initial period of unrest I'll experience an influx of business, methinks." He ponders the second question for a moment before shrugging, "doesn't much matter to me who's in charge, as long as they leave us little folk alone."
At the Favoured Sting's temple, Tolenn sends Larks on his way "Follow the Dawnflower's path and you will find salvation. she offers in benediction.
She then leaves that den of treachery and stands on the stops, looking out at the city, pondering.
The butchers shop in question is in the same neighborhood of an old friend, Bert Runkle, baker and oftentimes fence for Lamm and his Lambs, but always with a sweet bun for the ophans and a kind word. Her thoughts drifted to the small joy those confections brought to her younger self.
Resolved , she crossed the city into her old neighborhood, and makes her way around to the back of Bert's shop, where 10 years ago she brought what baubles she'd found. Standing at the open doors, watching the bustle of the bakery, she waits patiently until she's noticed.
** spoiler omitted **
The bartender wipes his forehead with a dirty sleeve, only managing to smear the smudge there around a little. He sighs wearily, looking away from Gaius. "Business has been dreadful, what with people being scared to death of them Hell Knights on the streets. I guess I should be thankful...aftuh this initial period of unrest I'll experience an influx of business, methinks." He ponders the second question for a moment before shrugging, "doesn't much matter to me who's in charge, as long as they leave us little folk alone."
Gaius nods, sipping his beer slowly.
Well said, friend. Still, I hear there's some that's not taking too kindly to the queen's ascension. He leans in, lowering his voice.
Some guards have holed up in butcher shop, called All the World's Meat or some such. A fellow by the name of Verik Vancaskerkin is leading 'em, saying someone should change the way things are run around here. Have you heard anything about this?
Daud simply nurses drink as Gaius wheels the bartender for information. Atleast his mouth seems to be working okay again.
Tolenn makes her way around, and her patience is rewarded when about thirty minutes later Bert himself makes an appearance, looking ten years older and twenty pounds heavier, but no less cheerful. He is carrying a tray of rather...poorly made pastries. When he sees Tolenn, he gets a thoughtful expression on his face for a moment before he breaks out in a grin.
"Tolenn! It's you, isn't it? I'm glad to see ya after these many years!" He looks down at the tray of baked goods and laughs. "My grandson is starting to learn the trade. Methinks the boy should be a thug from the way he brutalized these."
--------------------------
Meanwhile, Gaius is having success gathering information from the bartender. The man shrugs indifferently as Gaius' first statement. "Those fuh or against the Queen, they all need drink and food. No mattuh to me who they serve as long as they pay me a visit."
He nods, "Aye, I don't know about this Vancaskerkin felluh, but there's a small group of ex-guards there that's calling themselves the Cow Hammer Boys or something similuh. These felluhs are handing out free meat to the city's hungry, or as much as they can, at any rate."
The dirty barkeep leans in closer, whispering, "Word is, ya can also hire em out as mercenaries, if you've got the coin. Just mention 'the night's special cuts'."
Pyron buys the longsword.
Free meat you say, huh? C'mon Daud, let's see if we can get some of that. Thanks friend. Good luck to you. Oh, and if you can give this to the girl--tell her Gaius came by. Would you believe it was around a lamb's neck? Once we sheared the wool off, we found it.
With that, he motions to Daud and Vuk and starts walking back to meet the others.
How much gold you think we have left, Daud? Enough to hire some mercs? I have a plan...
Gaius smiles broadly, unable to conceal his delight and what he perceives to be his own cleverness.
Toleen is a bit surprised that Bert so easily recognized her, she felt that she'd changed so much. She then self-consiously touched the scars on her face, and caught the kind look Bert gave the gesture.
With a smile, Tolenn says "Grandson is it? Glad to see that your bakery won't be going anywhere soon! May I?" she says reaching out for one of the mishappen pastries.
"If you wish to tempt your luck, who am I to say no? These were bound for the alley anyways." The man laughs good-naturedly, looking over Tolenn's armament and equipment in addition to her face.
"Besides for my pastries, to what do I owe the pleasure, Tolenn? You're a good sort, I know, but even the good sort can fall in with bad company." He keeps his tone light, but the question is very serious, and Tolenn suspects that the wrong answer will receive a shut door in her face.
"Probably a bit, those other two don't seem the frivolous sort. But, unlike us, they're also good people, so they may have already given everything to charity." Daud pauses for a bit before adding "Correction, The Empty Throne would try to give everything to Charity. The Courtesan would just make sure she fills out all the paperwork on it."
Tolenn pops the pastry into her mouth, and mostly successfully disguises her reaction at the bland, floury taste of the confection.
"He need a litle work.." she says, then motions Bert to walk with her to the door, out of earshot of the other workers.
Waiting for her friend to place the tray of inedible patries down, she says quietly "As you can plainly see, my fortunes have changed since we last met, I do the Dawnflower's will now." Closing her eyes briefly, she then meets Bert's eyed directly, "Lamm is dead. Myself and few other's he'd wronged, set out to bring him to justice...in the end he was slain by his own crocodile pet. "
Taking a deep breath, she pauses for the news to sink in.
"He needs a miracle, you mean!" Bert dutifully follows Tolenn, setting down his tray.
He absorbs her news in silence, expression unreadable. "He was a customer, sure, but the city will be better off without him and his ilk. You've done well by your god, I'm thinking."
Tolenn nods at Bert's comment, then says "I'm glad to hear you say that Bert, as I only knew that you did business with him at arms length, with the likes of myself." Smiling, Tolenn continues "Among Lamm's possession was something that belonged to the Queen, upon our return of it to her Majesty, we were asked to assist in calming things here after her assumption of the throne. "
She pauses here, gauging his reaction to her working for the new Queen
Sense Motive
"Many bakers up to no good these days?" Bert asks, mirth coloring his cheeks at his teasing. "The city needs a bit of calming, I'll say, and I'm glad she's picking up more reputable characters than those Hell Knights! He shakes his head in disgust.
Tolenn's brow furrows in concern, "I too have some reservation about thier use by the Queen...But back to the matter at hand. There's a butcher near by, All the World's Meat. There's word that some deserters from the guard are holed up there. Do you know the place? Any comings or goings?"
The baker nods vigorously at Tolenn's words. "Aye, they are former guards, and therefore deserters, but they be giving out free meats to the city's hungry. Many of my customers have been filling my bread with the free meat."
He looks around and leans in closer, using a stage whisper, "I hear though, that them thugs who do most of the lifting will also take 'care' of a person for ya, if you're needing that sort of thing. Mention the 'night's special cuts', and if your coin looks right, they take care of that business. I don't think their fellow in charge, Verik, knows about it. He's too enamored with some lady who visits."
Tolenn considers what Bert has said "Interesting, where do they get they're meat that they can give it away for free? And these 'special cuts' they perform... not really the kind of neighbors I'd want." Tolenn pauses a moment before asking "This lay of Verik's, is any description available, Bert?"
Diplomacy
After he answers or not, Tolenn leans in an asks "Bert, are you still in the 'business'? We've found with the recent troubles, people aren't interested in some of the other 'found' items we liberated from Lamm."
"Well, I know they keep cattle in there for slaughter, cause I hear them all the damned time! As for the layout, I don't rightly know. Never frequented the place myself."
Bert's eyes light up with greed, and he leans in further. "Aye, I might be able to find a home for them."
Tolenn chuckles, "Same old Bert. " then says "Sorry, Bert, I misspoke. I meant the Verik's lady friend, any description of her?"
The baker scratches his head, perplexed. "Don't know much. Supposedly a lovely little slip of a woman, and the rumor is highborn."
"Interesting...." Tolenn murmurs, then pulls Bert close for a hug "Thank you, Bert. It's good to know that the good ones in Korvosa are still around! I'll let you know about any business to come your way."
Stepping back from Bert, still smiling, Tolenn turns and walks calmly back down the alley and begins to make her way back to Zellara's house.
"Aye. Be safe, Tolenn. These are strange times." He returns the hug, then proceeds to dispose of the poison his grandson had baked.
All of you meet up later on, Pyron with a shiny new sword for Gaius. The streets are not nearly as wild as they were yesterday. Perhaps it is because of the regular Hell Knight patrols, or Korvosa's own guard that has finally taken to the streets again.
Well, here's your new, shiny sword. And here's your change. Pyron hands over the sword and then the change.
"Cool."
Gaius tests the balance of the blade then sheathes it, nodding in approval of its craftsmanship.
Daud and I have something on these would-be mercenaries. They've been giving out free meat to people to rally the townsfolk to their point of view. And if you mention the night's 'special cuts' they'll do the sort of butchering Lamm was used to. I'm thinking we pay 'em a visit as potential clients, try to lure them to 'take care of' a particularly loyal servant of the queen named Tolenn. We give them the gold and the time and place. When they show up to go through with it, we turn the tables and take them in. It's supposedly just a splinter group within the main faction, so we can find out who's who if we play it that way.
"Poor, poor Tolenn. That she should find herself in our company." Daud has a slight smirk to his face as he talks.
You know Daud, I think I have to agree with you. Pyron gives a wry smile and winks at Tolenn. Just the thought of having to set up my new friend sours my belly.
Tolenn smiles at the mention of her becoming bait for the deserters "A devious plan, Gaius. " she says, smiling at the concern stated by the others "I have not fear that you will all be ready to defend me from our would-be assassins."
"I visited an old friend and he corrobarated what Gaius said, with the addition that their leader Verik, often has a lady friend visit, possibly noble born."
We might want to arrest her of we get a chance to get more information.
It could go either way if I go. Since I was a part of the guard, either they may think that I am going undercover, unless I can show that I left the guard and would like to work with them. It might be best if I don't ask for the special cut. Though, I might be able to get them to think that I turned in order to infiltrate their ranks.
Or I could not go at all just to be on the safe side.
Well, we can all go to get the free meat and get a glimpse of their operations. Then Daud and I can break off and inquire about the "special cuts". Not everyone in the group is in on the killing, so we won't have to convince all of the members of anything.
"I'd prefer to restrict our deliberate falsehoods to those concerning the "special cuts" ruse, and not include impersonating duly appointed officials." Tolenn offers, then continues "If I am to be the "special cut" I daresay I shouldn't be seen anywhere close to the butchers until our ruse is sprung. "
I don't want to risk the mission. I would rather not go. Also, if they are suspicious, then they won't know the true numbers if they think it is a trap.
Anyways, there is something I need to do on my own tonight, so I will catch up with you guys later. I am not splitting; I just have some personal training and meditation that I need to do tonight. I will see you guys either tonight or in the morning. Just tell the would be assassins that you know she'll be attending a function at a specific location tomorrow, or something. He hand the other guys their money if he hadn't given it to them before, so they know he isn't running off with the money.[/b]
Very well--we'll set the trap for tomorrow night, Zellara's house. Best bring Vuk along, too--free meat is free meat.
Gaius and Daud travel through the streets. The normal traffic of the city has not returned in force, so they are able to make relatively good time through the morning, only encountering guard and Hell Knight patrols. Both groups have calmed down since the riots, but the Hell Knights give you a long look before passing by.
The pair notices that there is a long line outside the building that is supposedly their destination. A sign outside the building has a picture of a fat, smiling cow. A thuggish looking man who is surprisingly well-outfitted in chain mail is stationed outside the front door. A couple of older children push open the doors from the inside, the older one carrying a wrapped package as she smiles and calls back something to someone inside the shop. The tough then waves in the next group in line, allowing them entrance before holding his hand up to halt further progress of the line.