The elf woman nods quickly at Amira's words. "Aye, m'lady. I know a second chance when I see one. I'll be on my best behavior, I promise. Hehehe, hmmm...yes, best behavior." Jolistina smiles widely at Tolenn and Amira, her blue eyes flitting between the two women.
Lord Carowyn merely nods absently, clearly overwhelmed by the trauma of the previous day and current events. He just slumps in the cellar, glassy-eyed.
"Mister Carowyn, would you care to come with me to Shelyn's temple? The priest there can help you in any way you may need," she tells him softly, "and it would be better than spending another night in the cellar."
Relieved at the current outcome he still kept his mouth shut, on account of it not being a good idea if he talked to the man.
The man nods wordlessly to Terri, still in shock.
As the adrenaline waned the gravity of the situation for the other man finally sunk in for Wednesday, he had lost his friends... his wife...
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Terri Joins the others to see Jolistina to the temple of Sarenrae before escorting Mister Carowyn to the temple of Shelyn. Along the way, she works up the courage to ask him a question that had been nagging her since she'd seen his art gallery.
"Mister Carowyn? If it's not too impertinent of me, could you tell me where you got the painting that's titled 'Desire' from," she asks, her cheeks turning pink as she remembered when Wednesday had found it.
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Jolistina is all smiles, and practically skips on the way to the temple of Sarenrae. She glances adoringly Wednesday's way a few times, but otherwise just hums and has a generally sunny disposition.
Mister Carowyn remains silent, shambling along like a vessel without a pilot. At Terri's question he responds in an emotionless voice, "Me and the Misses saw it on a late night trip to the temple of Calistria, and she just had to have it. Said those two young women turned her juices to flowing." He either doesn't recognize Terri from the portrait, or ignores the fact.
Offering Jolistine a faint smile whenever she glances back at him Daud can only roll his eyes knowingly at the Carrowyn's reason for getting the painting. Not that he could argue with said reason.
"Oh," the young priestess says as her face goes from rosy cheeked to bright red, "Did you two get it from the artist?"
"Yes. Scream, I think his name was. Salvatore Scream. He usually did darker stuff, but he had been trying to branch out and try his hand at different things. He did a lot of revenge works for the Calistrians, but had offered to do something more...lusty...this go around." He drones on, little inflection in his voice.
"We paid fifty gold pieces for it. I scoffed at the price, but the Misses promised me...well, we paid for it."
Tolenn walks quietly along with the others, with half an ear to Terri's conversation with the unfortunate Carrowyn, the other occupied with the beautiful bird song from a nearby tree.
Watching Jolistine prance along, she quashes a few internal doubts about the wisdom of their course of action with the villan.
"Darn, I was sure that we were worth more than twenty-five crowns apiece," Terri says, only to blush when she realizes that she was speaking out loud.
A dozen different expressions cross her face as it turns redder and redder with embarrassment, her mouth moving without any sound coming out, before trying to hide behind her glaive with a squeak.
The man turns a cloudy gaze to Terri, as if seeing her for the first time. Recognition registers in his eyes, but his shock and despair win out, for now.
Amira lays a supportive hand on Terri's shoulder and squeezes gently for a moment before letting go.
"Just because some people can put a low price on a piece doesn't make it any less lovely," Daud says to the cherry skinned priestess while keeping an eye on Jolistina to make sure she doesn't dance off somewhere.
Tolenn nods and joins the others in reassuring Terri, "Indeed, I'll repeat my opinion that the piece was beautiful, Terri..
She leads the group through the streets of Korvosa, aiming for the Shelynite Temple.
Arriving, she has Jolistine sit on the steps so she's more easily watched.
"We'll wait here for you Terri."
"That was supposed to be in my head. Why wasn't it in my head? Why did I say that out loud," is all Terri can manage for awhile.
Once they arrive at the Shelynite Temple, Terri asks to speak with the head priest. She briefly lays out what happened, skimming over some of the stickier parts as best she can before asking if there's a place Mister Carowyn can stay for the time being.
The high priest listens with rapt attention as Terri informs him of the travesty that occurred at Carawyn Manor. He nods and speaks, "We will take him in if you wish it, Terri. I am glad you are helping in this time of need, young priestess, but please let us know next time before you disappear. We have been worried sick about you!"
The older man smiles to take the sting out of his words, tousling her bronze hair before gently guiding Mr. Carawyn inside another chamber.
Tolenn luxuriates in the bright sunshine, feeling as if it burned away the sights from the Carawyn mansion. Then she'd look down on Jolistine sitting on the steps, fidgeting and looking all mooneyed at Wednesday.
Turning she sees Terri hurrying down the steps, without Master Carrowyn.
Deeming Terri's request of her Temple a success, Tolenn guides the group to her own.
This time, to forstall any difficulty with an overzealow Acolyte, Tolenn bluntls declares, "I have buiness with Priestess Solara." and breezes past with the others in tow.
Arriving at Solara's small office, she knocks then enters, holding a hand up to prevent the others from entering.
Seeing her friend busy at work, Tolenn waits for her to finish whatever missive she was writing.
When Solara looks up, Tolenn says , "I'm sorry, Solara, I must impose on our friendship once again."
Daud couldn't help but smile faintly as Tolenn basked in the symbol of her Goddess' attention upon world. She always looked happy, and cute, when she did that, in slight opposition to her usual stern yet serene self.
He was pretty sure she was a sunflower in a previous life.
Coming to the more familiar and calming temple of the Dawnflower Wednesday wordlessly follows after the Paladin as she makes her way to the high priestess.
Solara looks up and smiles when she sees Tolenn, holding up a finger before continuing to scratch at a parchment for a brief minute. She gathers some sand and sprinkles it onto the page, gently blowing on it to remove the excess, then stands and walks briskly forward and wraps Tolenn in a warm embrace. "Impose all you want, Sister. I am sure whatever you request is the will of the Dawnflower, and thus I should endeavor to help."
Tolenn nods earnestly, "I'm sure it is, Solara."
Taking a deep breath, she continues "We stumbled upon a charnel house, a great evil. The perpetrator, a tortured soul, has expressed interest in redemption. I offered her a place of service here to atone, and learn the blessing of doing good deeds. "
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Solara studies Jolistina for several moments. For her part, the blonde-haired elf giggles, giving what is clearly supposed to be an innocent grin.
Finally, Solara looks to Tolenn and nods grimly. "First there must be penance. Then shall we test her resolve with the holy flames of Sarenrae, who will cleanse the stains of sin from her spirit, or consume her and speed her to whatever hell awaits her."
She turns her gaze to the faux jester, her tone severe, if not unkind. "But first, penance. You may leave her here, Sister." She says this last to Tolenn while continuing to look at the elf. Jolistina's grin withers under the look, replaced with nervousness and shuffling feet.
Tolenn nods to her friend, then turns to Jolistina, "Listen well to Solara's wisdom, it may save your soul."
Then with a pat on the shoulder, she leaves the elf in the company of the priestess.
Out in the hall, she smiles brightly at Daud and the others, "Let's talk with the sister, then Croft...."
Bowing in thanks to the priestess he then offers Jolistina a kind smile before returning Tolenn's. Rather than say something since Croft was brought up he just nods in agreement with the paladin.
"Agreed. Were it not for the fact that he's lost enough I'd consider burning the manor to the ground just to contain the conagion from speading in that part of the city." Amira says solemnly.
Terri apologizes, rubbing the back of her neck as the priest chastises her for not letting them know. After making sure that Carowyn would be taken care of, she follows the others to the temple of Sarenrae.
After dropping Jolistina off, the priestess doesn't seem so cherry as Tolenn.
"I don't know why you're smiling," she says quietly, without any accusation coloring her voice, "we didn't find her brother, and what we did find is worse than if we'd just found him dead. H-how are we supposed to tell her that-- that--"
Terri closes her eyes and tries to keep herself together, unable to finish what she had started to say.
With Terri's uncertainty Wednesday holds his hand to put on her shoulder but stops himself just shy of brushing against her. "We tell her he's alive but being held by someone and we are searching for him," he says softly to her, opting for the simple truth.
Tolenn's smile slips a little, then brightens again, "Wednesday has the right of it, Terri." she says, grasping the cleric's other shoulder, standing beside Daud.
"But I smile because we stand witness to the possible reclaiming of a soul out of darkness, into Saranae's light!" Tolenn enthuses, then continues more soberly "The manor was a terrible thing, and we honor those that fell by bringing those ultimately responsible to justice and Ruan back to his sister!"
Daud also can't help but smile at hearing the fire in Tolenn's words. At this point he didn't even care about going to see Croft again.
That settled, Tolenn leads the others from the Temple, nodding and or smiling at the various attendants and priests they pass.
Emerging once more into the bright sunshine, she turns to the others, "We should bring tidings to the sister first, despite their grave import."
Soon enough, the group is before the sister's door, Tolenn knocking...
If she set up a surprise welcome home party this is gonna suck.
After a few moments, the door is opened, Deyanira standing in the threshold. She looks much the same, young and pretty but exhausted, sleep likely a solace she has been getting little enough of lately. She looks hopeful upon seeing you on her doorstep, but after she searches the group and does not find her brother amongst you, her face falls and she says tremulously, "Did you find him?"
Taking in and then letting out a deep breath to ready himself Daud starts of with a flat "No."
"But we do know that he still lives, he was abducted and we are heading out after them."
"I'm sorry Deyanira," Terri says, her eyes dim, "we'll do all we can to bring him back safely. You have my word on that."
"The fact that they took him means there want him for something, and that means he will stay alive." Amira says quietly. "Maintain hope."
"Indeed, we will do all in our power to return your brother to you." Tolenn says, her eyes bright, her tone one of absolute confidence.
The woman's eyes start swimming in unshed tears, but she maintains a brave facade, probably knowing what sort of foulness an evil person could want with another human being. "I thank you for your help. Indeed, I hardly know you, but I count you as my friends. Please be safe, and thank you for everything." Her voice quivers only slightly as she shuts the door. Her sobs can soon be heard, muffled by the thin portal.
"Losing a sibling is never easy..." Daud mutters to himself after hearing the muffled sobs fade away.
"Yes, but I fear we have more fell news to deliver. Croft needs to know what happened," Terri says as she begins making her way to the Citadel.
The group makes its way to the Citadel to report their pseudo success to Field Marshall Croft. As they enter, they are beckoned forward to Croft's small office. The Field Marshall is sitting there, looking exhausted and wan, as usual.
In addition, there is another in the office. A man with wide-set eyes stands in a corner, looking at the ground and seeming a bit irritated. A small scar is visible on his right jawline, just seen through a fresh growth of stubble. His grey, long-sleeved shirt is folded up, and he wears blue pants tucked into black boots. Black gloves and a black vest complete the look.
Croft looks up and smiles as widely as she can. "Hello friends! Did you see to Miss Deyanira as I asked?"
Stepping into the office Daud's mouth begins to move answer the field marshal but he stops himself incase another insult came out instead of the truth. Moving over to lean against his spot on the wall he just lets the others enter and speak.
A slight shift of his gaze from the ground towards the group that entered occurred as Croft begins speaking. This revealed a set of hazel eyes locked in a glare that conveyed annoyance and a bit of anger, the small from on his face adding to the emotion shown by his eyes. The glare graced every single member of the group, lingering on each one for a few moments before leaving without a clear reason to another, and after finally finishing their tour of the well armed party with Terri, they turned towards door they entered from, as if trying to look past the wooden barrier and witness what was beyond it.
The only thing that seemed out of place and almost unnatural about the man was the shadow he left on the ground. It appeared deeper and thicker than the shadow of any person in the room, almost like it was an opening to a dark pit untouched by light.
The people who'll get me out of here eh? A loud, disgruntled sigh escaped Victor's mouth, as his hands slid into his pockets, his back propped itself against a nearby wall. His vision unfocused on anything in particular but showing no clear sign of boredom, their reflection still a clear image dissatisfaction and somberness.
Terri found herself shrinking away from the man's gaze, subtly moving behind Tolenn.
"W-we did, yes, but we-- we bring you really bad news," she tells Croft, trying to ignore the clawing at the pit of her stomach, "Carowyn manor has been turned into an abattoir. Almost everyone inside was killed, the only survivors being Miss Deyanira's brother and Mister Carowyn. A necromancer had taken Ruan since he survived the plague that swept the place. We've already told Deyanira what happened and have put Mister Carowyn under the care of the priests in the temple of Shelyn."
Amira's takes in the man, her eyes narrowing as she note's the effect the man's presence has on Terri. The preistess had ben sheken more than enough today and she wouldnot tolerate anyone menacing her.
Taking a step forward she turns her attention on him. "Something interest you stranger?" she says quietly, her voice a ssubtle growl.
Croft listens intently as Terri tells her of the travesty that is Carowyn Manor. She nods absently, stroking her chin. "Rolth, I'd imagine. Will I ever be rid of that leech on society? But what would he want with a young Varisian man?"
At Amira's words, the Field Marshall steps out from behind her desk, between the party and the man. "I apologize, I should have made introductions, first! Friends, this is Victor. Victor, please meet Terri, Amira, Wednesday, and Tolenn. They have been a huge help to Korvosa, especially in the last few trying days."
She turns to the 'main' group. "Victor is a...friend of mine. He asked what he could do to help around here, and now I think I know."
She steps back, to address everyone, shaking her head. "The Queen has ordered the bridges to Old Korvosa burned, thinking to enforce a mandatory quarantine of the island. Hundreds are dead. Doctor Davaulus and his Physicians hold near absolute authority, and it seems as though they are a possible cause of this disaster. We need information on these Physicians and their Master. To that end, I would like you to go the The Hospice of the Blessed Maiden. That is the main hospital, and Davaulus' acknowledged headquarters. At this point, with the sickness raging throughout Korvosa, speed is of the essence, so get in however you can, but do it quickly!"
Croft seems desperate and nearly sick as she speaks, as if the thought of going against the acknowledged authority in the city is causing her extreme discomfort. "Will you do this for me? Is there anything I can get for you to help?"
"Something interest you stranger?" she says quietly, her voice a ssubtle growl.
She picking a fight here?! She's brave, an idiot or if I am unlucky both Victor's attention went to the woman that addressed him, the scowl on his face growing deeper.
"No--"
At Amira's words, the Field Marshall steps out from behind her desk, between the party and the man. "I apologize, I should have made introductions, first! Friends, this is Victor. Victor, please meet Terri, Amira, Wednesday, and Tolenn. They have been a huge help to Korvosa, especially in the last few trying days."
Teeth clenched in irritation at being cut off, but no other reaction came from the disgruntled sorcerer. He looked at the four individuals before him once more, this time something else gleamed in his annoyed stare...intrigue.
She turns to the 'main' group. "Victor is a...friend of mine. He asked what he could do to help around here, and now I think I know."
Friend?! Victor's face flinched, his eyebrows rising and his mouth falling slightly agape in shock before closing again Yes why don't we tell them how I also have lunch with the Queen every other day He desired to interject at first but decided it wasn't worth it...and even though he wouldn't admit Croft to him was a cut above the rest of the guards if only because she didn't have him treated like a rabid dog when he was arrested, but that level was still not very high either.
Croft seems desperate and nearly sick as she speaks, as if the thought of going against the acknowledged authority in the city is causing her extreme discomfort. "Will you do this for me? Is there anything I can get for you to help?"
Seeing Croft enveloped by such distress wasn't something the black haired pickpocket thought he'd see anytime soon. He let out a sigh of annoyance not believing that a small part of him actually felt sympathy for her for the briefest of seconds. Left the wall that supported his frame, closed the distance between him and the group slightly and turned his body partially in the marshal's direction "Nicer lodgings when I come back would be a start" Said Victor his tone only half serious.
Having done everything to consciously not focus on Croft Daud had ignored the other man in the room until Amira called him out. Looking back and forth between him and the others the Ustalav's scowl deepened. Friend of Croft's? Lovely, probably just trying to put a leash on us.
Listening to Croft explain what she wanted them to do next after Terri told her about Ruan and Rolth he finally decided to speak, seeing as she was already starting to move against the Queen's wishes. "By the way, the Queen's Gray Maidens were working with Rolth."
In speaking he kept adjusting his glare between the field marshal and her 'friend'.
Tolenn meets the newcomer's gaze calmly, her own merely appraising with out judgement.
After Croft's introducation, she polietly nod to Victor, "If you have it in your heart to suffer much for the good of Korvosa, welcome."
She nods at Daud's statement, "Indeed, Marshall, the evidence grows of the Crown's involvment in all of this perfidy. The unlucky boy was taken from the manor by the Grey Maidens...presumable to the Hospice you spoke of. "
She pauses, looking at Croft closely, "Marshal, we struggle against a great evil...your ultimate duty is to the people of Korvosa, not those that would inflict such suffering on them. Be not conflicted, we do holy work here. "