Sholti smiles back at their answers. She's especially glad to hear that the mercenaries are not strangers to boating.
"I'm so glad that we will have your help. We need to located a boat large enough to carry the prisoners away once they're out. I want to carry this out as soon as possible, before anyone there can be moved to a different location. I will keep you informed and let you know when we will begin. Thank you."
Afterward Sholti returns upstairs to see if the others have gotten back yet.
Sera smiles at her new tiny friend. "It should be fine having you around, and besides, you might enjoy having the company to talk with more so than the average drunk. If you have any stories to tell me though - it's probably better waiting until you meet my friends, they might want to hear it as well and I don't know about you, but repeating myself can get tiresome"
Kintargo - Vespam Artisans - Evening
Irisa nods in acknowledgment of Zel's point, "Maybe that is the problem. The Thrune has so successfully divided us that we don't know who our neighbors are and so many of our friends are missing that we are afraid we'll be next. We have to get past that and fight the urge to keep our heads down. The Thrune will not simply go away, he has to be made to go away or give us back the freedoms we so cherished prior to his arrival".
Tiel smiles, "You are right Irisa and we have already started. Look how fast we picked up allies not including each other".
Finally you ladies arrive on the same street as the Coffee House just as curfew is about to expire. From down an alleyway you hear a noise.
Kintargo - Clenchjaw's Out Back - Evening
The little Dragon follows along with you invisible of course. You press close to curfew and even beyond by a few minutes. Luckily, Laria sees you at the door allowing you to enter from the front instead of having to go the long way around the back.
"Success dear?"
"I'm fairly sure we'll have to drive him away. Freedom is a foreign thing to Thrunes." Zeldana whispered with a sigh before the she heard the noise.
Zeldana looked to her friends before slowly making her way into the alleyway. "Hello?" She called softly.
Kintargo - Vespam Artisans - Evening
From the alleyway Zel definitely hears a distinct, "Pssstt!" It is hard to see into the alleyway as it has no light source and it is of course, night.
Tiel glances at Zel and Irisa, "Maybe it's Hiranno? If we are going to investigate we had better do so right now".
Zeldana gave the two women a nod before she moved down the alley after the voice.
Sera sweeps through the threshold with a smile on her face. "Very successful indeed, you can meet a new friend of mine who seems to share our viewpoints on the current state of affairs, I told him he could stay here for a while, in return for the tavern keeping more of a lower profile than it currently is."
Kintargo - Clenchjaw's Out Back - Evening
He appears hovering in the air next to your shoulder Sera his wings moving at hummingbird speed, " Vendalfek at your service! Thank you Thank you Thank you for letting me stay here!"
Laria blinks in surprise as she clearly did not anticipate this development. "O.. o... of course you are welcome here dear little one. Uh Sera, can I speak with you a moment in private?"
Kintargo - Vespam Artisans - Evening
You Tiel and Irisa head into the alley hesitantly following the sound of the voice calling to you.
Zeldana
Irisa
Tiel
Tiel looks up and blurts out, "It's an ambush!"
Zel looks up and can see two men with crossbows above standing on ledges about 10' up and one charging at the ladies down the alley!
Initiative - Zeldana
Thugs 1-3
Irisa
Tiel
You ladies are about 15' into the alley. The two thugs above are 10' above on the left and the right. The one down the alleyway is about 30' away and charging hard. Tiel is in front, you are in the middle, and Irisa is in the back.
Sera nods her head in agreement with Laria. "Of course, please excuse me Vendalfek" she finishes as she follows Laria.
"We need to get out of here!" Zeldana stated as she took in the situation. "They have the advantage and I'd not like to stick around to see what they do with it!"
With that Zeldana turned to the one charging their group, her golden age gleaming.
Kintargo - Clenchjaw's Out Back - Evening
Laria brings you behind the counter and speaks in a hushed tone, " I appreciate that you have diffused the situation an Clenchjaw's. However, have you discussed with that Faerie Dragon that the same behavior here could have even more dire consequences me dear?"
Kintargo - Vespam Artisans - Evening
The charging man stumbles a bit as the crossbows from twang both shots miss.
Kintargo - Vespam Artisans - Evening
The thug continues his charge though off balance at Tiel.
The sword bites deep into Tiel's shoulder, she gasps in pain and counterattacks!
Tiel Spiked Gauntlet . Damage .
The man stops short and drops his sword clutching at this throat.
Irisa looks up at one of the thugs. "JUMP!" she shouts.
The man leaps off against his will slamming into the hard ground. .
Zeldana's glare turn a bit darker as she kept her gaze upon the original melee fighter.
Zeldana's glare turn a bit darker as she kept her gaze upon the original melee fighter.
Zeldana turned on her heel, pulling out the brass dwarf card from her harrow deck, and aimed it at the man still upon the roof. "I'd run if you can." She sighed before a blast of fire left the card.
Kintargo - Vespam Artisans - Evening
Fire!
The scoundrel cannot hide away from the fire as the flames lick at his body, losing his balance he falls off of the ledge.
Fall
The man falls awkwardly, the sound of bones cracking turns the stomach.
The last of the villains finds discretion to be the better part of valor and flees into the darkened alley.
"Irisa here quickly!" Zeldana called as she ran to the side of the man she had burned and who fell off the side. "You still have healing spells left yes? Please will you use one on him?" She asked.
Sera frowns at Laria quizzically. "I'm aware that he has a trickster personalty, that he will need to keep in check. No, its not currently been discussed, but I have a feeling he just wants a home, and company to share like minded conversation. If it becomes a problem, I'll speak to him."
Kintargo - Vespam Artisans - Evening
Irisa utilizes a minor healing on both thugs. Tiel shakes her head, "Time to get back!"
The three women rush back to Coffee House.
Kintargo - Long Roads Coffee House - Evening
Laria smiles, "Very good dear. I will let you handle it if it comes to that".
Vendalfek flies over, "So I can stay?"
Laria grins at him, "I would be delighted to have you dear. Sera will be your primary contact of course. We will show you where you are staying soon enough. For now, perhaps you can tell us about what happened at the Thrashing Badger..."
Kintargo - Long Roads Coffee House - Night
Finally all of the ladies assemble in the back room of the Coffee House. Laria presides, sitting on Sera's shoulder is a tiny multicolored Dragon who looks thrilled to be present as its grin is so wide and cute as to be infectious.
Irisa begins, "We narrowed down that Hiranno did NOT go to work today, we do know where she lives now so we will check there tomorrow I think".
Zeldana let out a small gasp when she saw the dragon. "Oh! Why hello there! What is your name? I'm Zeldana." She said smiling. But when Irisa began talking she snapped back. "Oh right! Yes she is correct. We're going back tomorrow to get where she stays and then to see if she's there."
Sholti greets Vendalfek, the very sweet little dragon Sera returned with. When Zeldana, Irisa, and Tiel give their account of the ambush in the alleyway though, she is very disturbed.
"They said nothing to you about a robbery? Simply attacked you?"
This bothers Sholti. It seems like a robbery in a way that makes it seem like it's supposed to look like a robbery. She would dismiss the thought, except that it happened right beside the coffeehouse.
Sholti has a strong urge to investigate the body of the dead one to see if there is anything to suggest some other motive. Also she would like to move the body elsewhere, perhaps a couple of streets over so that coffeehouse does not draw the dottaris' attention when they find it.
But she resists it. With the two others left unconscious it would not be safe. Besides she can think of no reason why they could possibly have drawn that kind of dangerous attention to themselves. So far at least.
Instead she relates her own discoveries about the Saltworks, and explains the still rudimentary plan she and Rexus have concocted.
Afterward she prepares for sleep downstairs along with the tengu sisters and mercenaries. If Sera and the others are going to their homes, she offers Vendalfek the foot of her bed for the night.
Kintargo - Long Roads Coffee House - Night
As the group relays all that has happened to one another Irisa and Tiel decide to head out back to their respective homes to return the next day. Laria talks them both out of it vehemently and they, begrudgingly agree to stay.
The night passes by uneventfully...
Kintargo - Long Roads Coffee House - Morning
The Ladies wake up early to the small of coffee freshly brewed by Laria. You all meet in the kitchen and Irisa and Tiel stand up. "Tell them", states Irisa. Tiel smiles, "I think I know a way to get a boat for the mission to the Salt Works. It'll take a few days and I'll need help. Irisa has volunteered to do so. In the meantime, perhaps the three of you can follow up on finding Hiranno?"
Kintargo - Hiranno's Home - Morning
You wake up in the morning sore from the activities of the previous afternoon. Sitting next to you on the couch is the woman who introduced herself as Hiranno and took you in yesterday.
"Good morning Stricia, did you sleep well?" The katana she used to such precision effect the prior day hangs from the far wall.
Kintargo - Kadwyn's Humble Abode - Morning
The dawning of a new day brings you no closer to solving the riddle of the Salt Works. You have scouted the place by day for a few days in a row now but it appears too heavily guarded to break into by day. Plus you alone could not take on so many armed Dottari.
Zeldana looked to the two other girls before she looked back to Laria. "It will give me a chance to know Sera, but I worry it may throw the Smith off." She told her. "But if Sera and Sholti wish to join me I will not stop them."
Having made little headway in her recent endeavors, Kadwyn decides to take a different approach. Perhaps she can find some assistance.
Stricia nods and rises up to make a fist with her left hand and hold it in the palm of her right as she bows.
I am well. Thank you for helping me yesterday. Kintargo is... different from what I was told to expect
Sholti smiles broadly over the cup of coffee she is holding in both hands. "Excellent news Tiel! How will you do it?"
When Zel mentions her doubts about the smith, Sholti replies:
"If you think arriving with a new set of people would disturb the smith, maybe we could wait outside while you talk with him Zeldana?"
Kintargo - Long Roads Coffee House - Morning
Tiel smiles, "Before I became a radical freedom fighter I was a seamstress. One of my customers had a husband who was a sailor, I think Irisa and I will pay her a visit today and see if she is willing to help".
Irisa looks back to you all, "Good luck finding Hiranno".
You all get moving.
Kintargo - Vespam Artisans - Morning[/b]
Soon enough the three of you find yourselves standing outside of Vespam's.
Kintargo - Kadwyn's Humble Abode - Morning
Kadwyn heads to the Three-Legged Devil to drum up some leads. Soon enough you buy a drink for a man willing to talk. "There is a faction named itself the Rose of Kintargo they did, Milani worshippers. I hear talk that they had a member who frequented a place called the Long Roads Coffee House".
Kintargo - Hiranno's Home - Morning
Hiranno grimaces, "Indeed, I have had the same experience. I too am a recent arrival here in the city. I came for new scenery what about you?"
Kadwyn thanks the man for the information and leaves the dance hall for Long Roads Coffee House. She crosses Bleakbridge with a spring in her step as she makes her way to the Kintargo's North side. In near record time, Kadwyn arrives at her destination and enters. Approaching the counter, she orders a black coffee.
Once served her cooffee, Kadwyn engages the barista in conversation, "Excuse me, I heard a member of the Rose of Kintargo frequents this coffee house. Would you happen to know anything about them?" Kadwyn catches herself, realizing how she might come across, "I'm looking for help."
"Do you want to come in with me? Or remain out here as you suggested?" Zeldana asked Sholti as they got to the shop.
Stricia nods understandingly.
The same for me also. She responds to the swordswoman.
"I don't suppose there's anything to be gained by me coming in. If it might put him off talking it seems better for me to just wait outside. I'll find something to do in a shop nearby and watch for you to come back out."
Zeldana gave Sholti a nod before she stepped into the shop, looking for the shopkeep from yesterday.
Kintargo - Long Roads Coffee House - Morning
The barista, a middle aged halfling female smiles warmly at you, "Sorry dear, I don't know any Rose".
A few minutes later a human male with a goatee likely in his early thirties bumps into your table. "Sorry ma'am. Hope i did not spill your coffee, here let me clean that up".
He wipes at the table with a napkin though nothing spilled and leaves the napkin under your cup. You notice there is writing on it.
Kintargo - Vespam Artisans - Morning
Sera and Sholti step away to a nearby shop as Zel enters. As with the evening before she sees plenty of interesting ares for sale. The same smith encountered the night before waves to her, "Greetings. Serila behind the counter knows where your friend lives".
Zel approaches Serila who smiles at her, "Can I help you?"
-------
Nothing in the area seems out of the ordinary Sera and Sholti. Dottari patrols are out but that is by itself not unusual nowadays.
Kintargo - Hiranno's Home - Morning
The swordswoman chuckles, "It seems we both have our secrets. I think our best course of action is to wait here until dark. Then we can slip by the guards and meet with my friends, I think you will find them and they will find you quite interesting.
Have you any questions for me in the meantime?"
Zeldana gave the girl a nod of respect before she began. "I was told you might be able to tell me where my friend Hiranno. Though you may know her by another name." She said softly. "I haven't seen her around the past few days and I'm starting to worry." She explained.
Stricia smiles back at the swordswoman. When did all.. .this.. .happen to the city? Was it recent? It seems like many are being taken away She asks
To prison? she adds hopefully.
Reading the note visibly improves Kadwyn's mood. I don't really know anything about this Rose, but they're my best chance of getting to Zea.
Kadwyn leaves a tip at her table and exits the coffee house. She spends a few hours anxiously browsing the shops in the nearby Newt Market before returning in the afternoon.
Kintargo - Vespam Artisans - Morning
Serila smiles, "I can hell you but I find it odd that if you are her friend, you do not know where she lives..."
-----
You see the Dottari begin to question an Elf, they appear to be harassing him a bit as he was simply walking down the street.