Daud can't help but grin as a thought occurs to him. Without really looking at anyone in particular he says "Slaying undead. Stopping a plague. Throwing down a tyrant. If I didn't know any better I'd say the Dawnflower has taken a great interest in this game."
"And the protection of the city and it's people take precedence over any individual leader. Korvosa stood before the queen and she will stand long after." Amira says with absolute certainty.
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."
Victor mirrored the nod, not showing his surprise at the polite greeting he received "I'll leave the suffering to the people in our way if its all the same to ya" His discontent expression unchanged as if it were carved into a stone, eyes only wavering when he noticed Wednesday's glare being distributed between him and Croft Looks like he's taking a liking to both of us, wonderful He said to himself, deciding not to share his sarcasm for now.
"And the protection of the city and it's people take precedence over any individual leader. Korvosa stood before the queen and she will stand long after." Amira says with absolute certainty.
She's got more sense than I thought. The fingers of his right hand rubbed his forehead.
Croft nods her head in agreement. "Aye...but I can help mitigate things in my current position, whereas by open defiance I gain nothing for the citizens of this city. At least not right now." Her tired eyes look to the group.
"You, though. You are not locked into as compromised a position as I am. And thus I turn to you for aid. Go to the building these so-called Doctors have claimed. Find me irrefutable proof that Davaulus seeks to spread this plague throughout the City, and the Queen will be forced to take action or have another riot on her hands."
Compromised... right...
"Better prepare for another riot" Victor made for the door with non-hurried but purposeful steps, swung it open and stepped out of the marshal's office, his right hand rubbing the back of his head as he continued his way towards the citadel's exit.
Amira's only response is a curt nod before flowing out the now open door. Falling in step with the new comer she addresses him directly. "Well if you're going to be working with us, it'll be useful knowing what you're good at."
With a nonchalant shift in his arm and a twist of his wrist, Victor's uncanny shadow stretched till it drew itself on the wall and gave a lazy wave to Amira, the grim arcane user on the other hand continued walking with his hands in his pocket "Heard a local alchemist call me a sorcerer once, later learned that that means I've got whatever wizards spend years studying to get" Once outside Victor raised his head slightly, closed his eyes, the frown on his face easing till it turned into a vague straight line, then he took a long deep breath and opened his eyes as he exhaled.
"Ok, mage." Amira says processing what she'd seen. "Hopefully more than just shadows on the wall. I'm Amira, and I speak for the spirit of Korvosa herself, in exchange she grants me certing gifts and protections."
A long, loud sigh ejects from Victor's mouth "Korvosa..." The annoyed gleam in his eye returns "At times I wonder why I even bother staying" Victor's head turns as he hears a small crashing sound, his annoyed eyes fell on a boy lying on the ground, he approaches the wincing lad, picks him up by the collar and stands him up straight "Watch where you're walking brat, no one's going to catch ya in this city" He gives the boy a rough push on the back then walks back to where Amira's standing.
"At times I wonder why I even bother staying"
"I know the feeling,' Daud muses unawares while he watches the man roughhouse some random urchin.
Victor has propped himself against one of the nearby wall of the citadel, waiting with hands dug deep into his pockets for the rest of the party to gather "Ya got any other errands to run? Or are we going to the hospice?"
Wednesday simply rolls his shoulders at the question.
"We need to prepare. If this is going to be worse than the manor, we can't afford to go in without a plan. I've already exhausted most of what I can do, and it'd be wise of us not to get in over our heads," Terri says, while silently adding, assuming we haven't already.
Nodding a respectful goodbye to the Marshal, Tolenn joins the others in their journey to Zellara's .
Watching Victor's interplay with the urchin with interest, Tolenn answers his rhetorical question, "You stay because like us....you have to. We all share a connection to this city..."
At Terri's observation, she nods, "I agree, we must first marshall our resources. I for one, have spent much of Saranae's blessings in fighting the horrors of the manor. Some time in prayer and rest is necessary if we are to confront the Physicans in their lair. Come, if you are to join with us, " she addresses to Victor, "you must make Zellara's acquaintance, if she show's herself."
"I should make better connections" Victor rubs the top of his head with his right hand, his eyes closed and his teeth clenched.
Opening his eyes, Victor turns his face to Tolenn as he leaves the wall he was standing against "There are more of you?"
"Our landlord."
"Even heroes need a roof over their heads" The pickpocket rolled both of his shoulders, as he followed the group towards their destination.
Signs of the riot were still clear as Victor walked with his new companions; some shop stands were still wrecked, others were put together hastily not accounting for looks, only for having a place to sell their merchandise and wares. Victor looks to his right to see one such stand, having an even roof with its owner looking for customers, clearly trying to ignore the state of his shop. His filed of vision turns to his left and he witness' a door bolted hastily with wooden planks Never thought this place could get worse He steps aside, to walk past an overturned cart missing a wheel, rotten pieces of the fruit that wasn't looted from it littered the ground with a few rats feasting on it The rats are benefiting and are bolder than before The sorcerer looked ahead once more and saw young man helping an elder walk to their destination, the older man's face was marred with anger and distress, the younger on the other hand had a more hopeful look on his face and spoke with an encouraging tone.
The pounding of hoofs on paved ground turns Victor's head towards its source. An elegant and vainly designed carriage was passing by their right side, flanked by four armed and armored guards Not everyone's suffering...or helping Victor felt the temptation to let them see a few choice images of horror but quickly squashed this desire. Croft as much as he loathed her for arresting him, offered him an opportunity for both freedom and to supposedly help Korvosa and he'll hold on to it for as long as it seems sincere.
As they group walks towards Zellara's , she watches their new companions out of the corner of her eye, seeing him actually 'see' the city as it is, the people's struggles, and those that would take advantage or merely ignore the plight of the unfortunate.
The fleeting emotions that play unsuspecting across his features, dismay and hopelessness at the state of previously vibrant businesses, hope as the young man helped the old, the flash of anger at the sight of the entitled noble, giving way to something else...submission ?
Whatever it be, by the time the groups arrived at Zellara's door , Tolenn was satisfied as to Victor's character and devotion to the city.
Entering, she bade Victor stand with the others at the dining room table, then called out "Zellara, we have a new companion. Perhaps, you'd grace him with a Harrow ?"
It seemed as though Tolenn's summons of the owner of the home would go unanswered. Many minutes passed, but finally a fine mist exuded from the deck, coalescing into the form of the Varisian fortune teller. She looks distracted and fearful.
"I apologize to be so late for your summons, my holy warrior. The City is suffering around us so much, I could hardly hear your call. Ah, yes, our brave new companion. Come closer, sir." She beckons Victor closer, pulling out four cards from the tarot deck now in front of her.
"Pick one and let us see what your future holds, sir..."
Victor reaches forth and pulls a card. On it is pictured a man doubled over, as though in a coughing fit. His skin is splotchy, and his face looks feverish.
"A very fitting card for you, good sir. You have come along late in this chain of events, but you shall be a force against the sickness that infests Korvosa. You shall be a cleansing flame that shall purge the City of her hurts and lay low those who have designed these events. Also, you must be careful, sir, as these very things can be used to lay you low. You must be quick...for I have looked into the future and seen your body amongst the layers of dead in the mass graves even now being erected. By saving the City, you save yourself."
The dark-eyed woman smiles sadly as she looks at all of you. "The end of this era in Korvosa draws nigh, my friends, for good or ill. I know not who works against the City (beyond the Queen), but they have masked themselves from my auguries. Be wary, champions of Light, and plan carefully. There shall be no retreat once your next mission starts...we are all in. I shall grant you what power I can to help you in this struggle...but ultimately it will be up to you. Good luck!" At her last words, she begins to fade, but not before a soft light emanates from the deck, washing over all those in the room. The light invigorates you, drawing a sliver of power from the city itself to infuse in all of you, a gift to Her protectors.
Victor thought he had caught Tolenn looking his way as they approached their place of respite, but wasn't too sure Keeping an eye on me? Don't blame her, I wouldn't trust someone that looked like me either He placed both hands in his pockets and continued his trek in a more slouched manner.
Chaos it seemed did not stop at closed doors; furniture was strewn across the floor of the Zellara's home, shattered, broken and disfigured, like a painting that had been crumpled, cut and splashed with mud, no meaning save for destruction could be gleaned from this mayhem. One thing was clear though this has predated the riots, as it was clear that save for the groups visits, the wounds that were inflicted on this home were old and the scars has long since festered.
"Pick one and let us see what your future holds, sir..."
Victor reaches forth and pulls a card. On it is pictured a man doubled over, as though in a coughing fit. His skin is splotchy, and his face looks feverish.
"A very fitting card for you, good sir. You have come along late in this chain of events, but you shall be a force against the sickness that infests Korvosa. You shall be a cleansing flame that shall purge the City of her hurts and lay low those who have designed these events. Also, you must be careful, sir, as these very things can be used to lay you low. You must be quick...for I have looked into the future and seen your body amongst the layers of dead in the mass graves even now being erected. By saving the City, you save yourself."
The dark-eyed woman smiles sadly as she looks at all of you. "The end of this era in Korvosa draws nigh, my friends, for good or ill. I know not who works against the City (beyond the Queen), but they have masked themselves from my auguries. Be wary, champions of Light, and plan carefully. There shall be no retreat once your next mission starts...we are all in. I shall grant you what power I can to help you in this struggle...but ultimately it will be up to you. Good luck!" At her last words, she begins to fade,
At first he believed this all to be some illusion, constructed by someone not so different from himself, and so he searched for all the signs associated with such a technique...the results shocked him into silence and almost made him take a step back before he was beckoned forward.
"Was going to do that anyway" He grumbled only barely loud enough to be heard as he struggled to chase of the look of astonishment and slight fear that were frozen on his face.
"I don't even want to know how you pay your rent!" He said to the group, his tone and countenance both emitting seriousness.
An image that oozed both warmth and mystery greeted the sorcerer as he made his way inside. Several chairs of local make flanked an older wooden table, their own hue slightly lighter, and while their craftsmanship reflected no arrogance, their sleek and efficient design held its own pleasantness when viewed for the first time. The only foreigners to this gathering were a seat fashioned of thicker, lighter wood, it's bulkier, legs sported carvings that held no clear meaning. Then there was a stool that appeared to have been kidnapped from a tavern or inn. The curtains that shielded them from the eyes of those on the outside were purple in color, which added to the odd vibrant coloring that were strewn around the house; on cabinets and even some doors, but there was a method to the madness or so it seemed. The floors and furniture were curiously clean, Victor couldn't remember a time in his life when he had seen such an absence of dust. The house's interior if anything stood out like a last bastion of civility and geniality. A camp of order and respite amidst the swamp of chaos and havoc that awaited them on the outside.
Victor walked to the unoccupied stool and gave his legs some time to relax "Got any plans? Or are we resting first?" Hazel eyes went from one person to another till they finally remained on Tolenn who seemed to him to be the most accepting of his addition to their unit of...he wondered at that point what they would be called; mercs? Heroes? The queen probably preferred rebels...maybe a few other not so queenly words as well. The thought made Victor smile slightly.
"We need a plan. While I don't doubt that at some point it'll be full on balls-to-the-wall chaos and violence, the longer we can avoid it, the more likely we are to succeed." Amira says sitting on the heavier chair.
Victor nods "We should see about finding an unused entrance" He slouched slightly, both his hands resting on his thighs "Maybe send someone to look around before we go in" The black haired man shifted in his seat, his hand forming an open palm and a fist at a rhythmic pace.
"Yeah, and we need evidence so we can't just burn the whole place down." Daud mused, slightly sourly, as how to go about this tactfully and sneakily played through his mind.
With no other apparent recourse Daud heads off towards their target with the second shadow caller he had met.
Darkened alleyways and shifty pathways were akin to a childhood home to Victor, one rife with tragic memories and regrets but a home nonetheless. The pickpocket shifted from corner to corner, finding refuge behind stacked boxes, the side of incomplete walls and the narrow paths between densely packed building and structures. Once he was close to the Hospice he turned his attention towards Wednesday "This should make things easier, just move quickly it won't last forever" Victor stretched his right arm towards his companion, the arm of his shadow at first only mimicking him as shadows do, but then it grasped the arm of Wednesday's shadow, in an instance a swirling torrent of shadow and arcane rose up and swallowed Wednesday, and when it dissipated he was gone "And don't smack anyone or it will stop working" Added the sorcerer as he let a similar shadowy vortex engulfed himself and likewise his frame was absent from view.
Without another word the sorcerer moved towards their target, keeping his eyes open for any hidden paths they can use to enter it or any peculiar movement or individuals within or without the Hospice.
"I suppose that also prohibits me from choking someone out, neh?" Wednesday's voice dryly says as it moves towards the hospice.
"I will wait here and pray and rest." Tolenn says as Victor and Daud depart.
She then retires to her room, removes armor and weapons. Then, in an ages old ritual, begins to pray as she cleans the implements of her faith.
The more stealthy members of the party slip through the streets towards The Hospice of the Blessed Maiden, the City strangely silent. Although darkness drove people indoors, in a city as large as Korvosa, one could usually still hear the night life present. Laughter from games of chance, singing from the floor of an Inn, even the sounds emanating from homes from couples arguing, love-making, or disciplining children. Almost none of that was heard. One sound permeated the air, and that was misery. The only audible components of the night air were the sounds of crying and moaning, those sick or mourning the sick.
As the group closed in on the Hospice, Victor shrouded everyone under the cloak of night, then the now invisible group proceeded. The Hospice was apparently a converted warehouse, as Croft had stated, as three large wooden cargo doors were on the back side of the building. Each set of doors was fifteen feet high and almost as wide, and all three were closed to the night air. The only other available entrance seemed to be the front door, a portal of normal proportions. There were no windows present in the structure.
"Plenty o'eyes will be on us if we open doors this big" Whispered Victor, his attention glued to the building they were to infiltrate "Lets see about the roof" Victor walked towards one of the alleyways close to the Hospice, then he broke into a run. Once close he jumped towards one of the walls of the alleyway, hitting it feet first, he bent his knees kicked off towards the other building, turned in midair and repeated the same aerial maneuver once his feet met the wall of the other building. The sorcerer hoped to continue this awkward and complicated ascent till he reached one of the roofs of the two buildings he used as stepping stones.
Victor tried to get a good view from above at the roof of the warehouse, all while trying to remain hidden behind his cloak of invisibility.
Trusting to her own unique talents, Amira follows, racing along the rooftops, silent and unnoticeable as a city breeze. Stopping on the rooftops she studies the area until she sees some sign of one o her invisible companions' activity.
Smiling to herself Amiria takes a few steaps before launching herself into the air, tucking into an elegant somersault to land on the Hospice roof.
"Smart move going invisible."
"Any edge you can get over your marks" Victor's hushed voice could be heard next to Amira "Can't find any other places to get in, except for the doors" The voice continued, unmoving from its spot. The invisible arcane user turned his eyes towards the city and the nightly horizon. It was a tragic and solemn view, before the riots he would have added flawed and beautiful, now on the otherhand it was not different from looking at slowly crumbling ruin, waiting for the inevitable collapse into the rubble of decadence.
"Better off going back, the only other thing we can try is ask around for underground tunnels" Invisible hands found their way to invisible pockets "And I am not a man you want handling that job, might also end up warning them if it gets around we are asking about'em"
Victor gave the door a knock and waited, hoping that those that stayed behind haven't surrendered to sleep yet.
Nodding, Amira readies to head back across the rooftops, flitting from building to building like shadow.
With nothing really else to contribute between the illusionist and the acrobat the invisible Daud heads back home with the others.
As Victor inspects the building for magic, he finds a magical aura along the western side of the southern wall. Delving deeper, he figures out that it is just one aura, and it is moderate and of the school of necromancy.
Terri, exhausted and aching from the fight earlier, merely nods to the others as they head out. Before Tolenn heads up the stairs, the young priestess reaches out and grabs her by the arm.
"C-can you help me get out of this, first? It hurts too move to much, and I need help fixing the holes," she says, indicating the widened seams where crossbow bolts had stabbed into her. After she's out, she channels some of what little power she has left, letting the warm light and a faint song wash over herself and Tolenn.
"I- I probably should have done that before the others left," she says, looking away in shame and embarrassment.
Another knock can be heard from the door of Zellara's dwelling, this time harder and if echoing anything it would be the knocker's impatience.
Asleep already?! A scowl formed on Victor's countenance, as he looked at the door with a glare of irritation. With a sigh he extended both of his arms forward and thought of what lied behind the door, he remembered the table, chairs and their distance from the door. Arcane energy melded and gathered around him, and a moment later his shadow extended under the small gap between the door and the floor.
Unless they were paying attention it would be hard to notice the elongated shadow that infiltrated the home of Zellara, but the figure with the crossed arms in front of it's chest that rose from it and bore a striking resemblance to Victor, even down to his furrowed brows and deep frown would be pretty hard to ignore.
Tolenn smiles gently at Terri's request, "Of course, Terri." she says, and carefully helps the cleric remove her armor.
Closing her eyes as Shelyn's healing balm passes over her, Tolenn shakes her head at Terri's blushing cheeks, "Nay, do not fret Terri. You had an understandably adverse reaction to the events in the manor. Do yourself some credit and absolve yourself of any feelings of shame, you stood with us all in the face of great evil. Celebrate that achievement! " she says, her eyes alight with righteousness.
"Now, go rest, I'll see who is at the door." she says, having already ignored one knock.
She stops on the way to the door, arms crossed as 'shadow' Victor materialized out of the shadows.
"No need to knock, Victor. You are no longer a guest here..." she says after opening the door.
Terri nods her head before heading off to bed. A few minutes later, she's in a nightshirt and sound asleep under the covers.
"Though learning some common courtesies wouldn't hurt." Daud grumbles as he moves past the impatient shadow caster into the house, greeting Tolenn with a bow of his head as he does so.