Waiting for you, with a drawing of a silver raven scribbled on a napkin clutched tight against her fist, appears to be Lady Docur. Her appearance and demeanor are clearly pushed to show off a grace and poise like that of nobility. Her bright green eyes scan the crowds, waiting for someone to notice her drawing and approach.
Moving close, Lirotha will wave for the others to hang back. She then approaches the Lady boldly but gently.
"Good morning M'Lady! Would the you be interested in a Harrow card reading? I would be happy to tell you your fortune for only a few coppers and a few minutes of your time! Oh, it seems you have 'Ravens' on your mind? Sounds to me like you are worried, like many citizens, of Kintargo's future. I could try and read the city's fortune if you prefer and possibly ease your mind a bit, although the Thrune's unpredictable nature makes it more difficult."
She then pulls her ancient Harrow cards out deftly and with panache and sits across from her with a smile.
A halfling in a teahouse employee outfit sneaks up to the table as Lirotha plies her trade and seems clearly interested in the fortune telling. He watches with interest, but clearly shows off Elurius's stylized silver raven embroidered over the breast of the uniform.
He watches for a moment and then asks, in a sing-song, nearly full on song, voice, ♫"Is there anything I can get you two? Also I would assume you will have more company soon, let me get some waters for them."♫
Oren waits around the fringes as normal. She wasn’t the team’s negotiator. She was ready for a sign to run bust some heads if the meeting went poorly.
"Oh dear me, this is quite a treat," says Lady Docur with a smile. "Let us see what fortune says as the others arrive."
"Well, I'm glad you've all arrived to talk with me. Your secrecy is something to commend on. If it weren't for a few contacts of my own, I don't think I'd have been able to contact you at all. Now that I have your attention I must ask: You've started a revolution, but what's next? What plans do you have beyond the rebellion?"
Frowning, Lirotha lays out cards on the table in a standard Harrow pattern, guessing the woman already has ideas of that direction.
"Our main goal is survival of the cause and the safety of the loyal citizens of Kintargo. Beyond that...I'm at a loss really. I'm no Mayor, or politician. I assume you have some ideas here? Its not like we have won yet either...Thrune is still here and making things worse by the day."
Rocco enters the teahouse a moment after Oren, Kurglunn safely ensconced within his subconscious. He wears a simple disguise, in that for once he isn't wearing his monstrous mask, but instead wears a simple cap and a large set of spectacles with the frames removed.
He seats himself at a small table just behind where Lirotha sits and watches out for signs of trouble. While he watches, he listens to the conversation taking place behind him and occasionally mutters responses to Lirotha.
"Hmm...sounds like we're dealing with someone with ambition. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Tell her we want to put power back in the hands of those who want to protect Kintargo from the overreaching arm of Thrune. We already have some more military types who are aligned with our cause; finding someone or a group of people who would administer rule of the city is next."
Lady Doocur chuckles low, under her breath. "Everyone has ideas for how things should be run, myself included. I've heard tell that your group was asking after the Gray Spiders not too long ago. Surely you're not thinking of following in their footsteps? A most distasteful profession, and one liable to hurt the average citizen."
She shakes her head quickly, "Please excuse me, my thoughts wander from time to time. Most of my current thoughts are about how to gain support for the rebellion. Have you considered currying favor with the nobility? One of the most important factors in my own work as the leader of a society of gifted individuals who would, without guidance, be outcasts at best, is that I've maintained excellent relations with the societal elite. Securing alliances with a majority of Kintargo’s noble families is just good sense."
Rocco snorts, "It's the elites that rolled over and let Thrune and his lackeys walk in and take over the city. What does she think they're gonna do now? Suddenly discover they have backbones?"
Placing another card down carefully, Lirotha furrows her brows showing some minor discomfort in the direction of the cards and the conversation.
"We are no experts in nobility, and we don't know if any are lackeys of Thrune...or are merely playing both fields just to see who comes out on top? Do you have a more specific suggestion we could go along with? I've heard your advice is rumored around Kintargo to be...exceptionally useful? I must ask however: What do you intend to get out of all of this? Other than freedom from Thrune's oppression?"
Sense motive
The halfling server comes back to the table with the orders and a steaming cup of tea, he pulls up a seat and plops down into it and makes a small exclamation of surprise over something across the room. Next moment there's Elurius sitting in the seat, tugging on her sleeves as she adjusts them to sit right. She picks up the tea cup and takes a sip, gesturing for the Lady to continue.
Her eyes do light up at the mention of the Grey Spiders. ♫"We were only tracking them down for something... exact details slip my mind, but I can assure you we are not going to be basing anything off of their reprehensible organization."♫
Seh sets down the cup and focuses further on the woman, ♫"As for keeping the nobles on our side, that would be a great idea personally. There is a lot of money and political power in those houses, power that extends beyond Kintargo's borders and would add some legitimacy to our endeavor. We would hate to follow in the footsteps of Galt."♫
She turns and addresses Rocco, ♫"Given that he was appointed by the damned House of Thrune, few would be willing to oppose it. Add in the 'subtle' message behind the Night of Ashes, especially with the burning of the Victacora house, and it's a wonder that the nobles aren't singing his praises in public, at least. And we shouldn't be turning away potential allies, especially wealthy allies."♫
Lady Docur nods to Elurius, "My thoughts on Thrune exactly. As to which nobles will be more likely to help with your cause I couldn't say, you'll have to do your own research. What I get out of all of this," she gestures around herself, but looks at your group specificaly, "is the peace of mind that tyrants don't get to do whatever they wish. Ah, speaking of which, I have a gift, should you choose to accept it."
She reaches into her pouch and pulls out two scrolls. They have divine writing on them . "I do hope you consider me an ally to your cause. I am always available in my place of business."
Nodding and smiling, Lirotha will glance at the scrolls and pass them to Elurius.
"We accept and sincerely appreciate any aid a citizen of Kintargo is willing to offer.Also, we will take you advice to heart and attempt careful contact with the nobility of the city. Moving forward, I can see us having a mutual beneficial relationship. Consider the Silver Ravens your allies."
After that, Lirotha will declare almost a little too loudly pointing to one of the cards on the table:
"Look at that card! Oh my...you will have a safe and illustrious career ahead of you my dear. You will also...gain family you never knew you had, and...find peace eventually in your personal life! My work is done here."
With a flourish, Lirotha will gather her cards quickly, stand and curtsy to the lady with respect. She then takes her leave slowly with a gentle smile.
After the meeting, And when the group is alone again, Oren Speaks up. ”I think we need to go collect Thrune’s gifts from the church. They might be trapped, but I can go collect them and we can all meet up somewhere far from the hideout. Lirotha can check them for magic and Rocco can tell if they might be dangerous. If they are, we can pitch them in the river, but if not, I’d hate to look a gift horse in the mouth.”
"I'm on board," Rocco replies, "I can help you in case there are traps on the treasures. Plus, if having Kurglunn with me has taught me anything, it's that it's better not to do these kinds of things alone."
Hard-eyed, Lirotha is vehement on the subject, but gives in a little understanding the group's curiosity.
"Its not just about magical traps and curses. What if they follow you back to another rebel group, or even one of our secret locations? Thrune has nearly unlimited resources here and we do not. We can't prevent him from trying. Or its possible they can trace the objects to us in some manner supernaturally or otherwise? Also, once they see you and know what you look like, they can try and trace your movements from there with the skill and will to try. Its just too risky! I don't want anyone to go near those things, and I don't want them in our new base either. But I can't stop you I guess. I won't touch them myself. Not unless a high priest or grand wizard can vouch for the safety of using them and they are obviously untraceable. In the end, I just don't like the idea of taking Thrune's 'gifts' because it also makes it look like we are under his thumb, or that we should be grateful he or his Devil-lovers are here. I don't want to give that mad-man even an inch figuratively or politically. Why? Because he's a Thrune, and he will take a mile regardless...and it will all be Pain and Blood then. Kintargo's blood."
Shaking her head, Lirotha sighs.
"If you want to see what they have, go on, but do NOT bring them back to our main base. Keep them elsewhere until we can afford to magically vet them and cleanse them if needed."
”Could have sworn I said we would not bring them back to the hideout,” Oren says with a shrug. ”Rocco, you up for a quick run to the church?”
"Wow Lirotha! What a brilliant string of paranoia you bring to the proceedings! I never would have thought to change our appearance or keep the items away from our main hideout until we're sure Thrune can't trace them somehow."
The halfling sneers up at the witch, "We're not THAT stupid, ya crazy hag! And it's not like we're just going to stroll in and announce ourselves: 'Yes, we're the Silver Ravens, here to collect our gifts from the mighty Thrune!'
When old Barzi tried to throw us a party in the first place, what did we do? We put a thumb in his eye and burned down one of his barracks! You don't think we could pull something similar here? Before I started up all this rebellion nonsense, I WAS A LITERAL BURGLAR! We're going to go in with disguises, find our way to the stuff, grab it and get out invisible and under cover of darkness! If you don't think that'll do the job, why don't you help us?"
Elurius picks up the scrolls, reads over them and adds them to her scroll case, before finishing her tea and giving a proper noble woman's curtsy to Ms. Docur and leaving with the rest of the group.
She looks over at Oren and Rocco as they talk about disguises ND sneaking into places. With a snap of her fingers she turns into a halfling man with a big bushy beard and a hard look. In a much lower voice the halfling sings out, ♫"Sneaking into a place without me? I think of the group I'd have the best chance of never being recognized! And seeing as I can disappear from sight for a good amount of time in a flash as well, it'd be a mistake to leave me behind."♫
Lirotha throws the halfling a scowl and a rude gesture.
"You want to try sneak into the freaking Temple of Asmodeous? Be my guest you insane halfling! You do realize some Devils can see through invisibility? Right? And clerics/inquisitors have some of the best truth-telling/interrogation magics there are? All I ask is if you get captured...and you will most likely get captured...try and swallow that thick tongue of yours so you can at least die before they call your soul back from the grave and are forced to give up all our secrets! Idiot!"
”How do we want to do this? Rocco, Elurius, you both are both more skilled at missions sort as this. I’m good at backing you up, if problems happen. Any thoughts?”
Elurius blinks and changes into a nondescript shift of a halfling, a sleeve tugging later and she's dressed in the ragged clothes of a temple slave. ♫"I could act like I'm coming into to give the items a cleaning, if it pleases the priest. Act like I'm mute to try covering my prodigious musical talents. I could scout out the route and if there are any devils on guard so Rocco can then sneak in under invisibility and steal them... If we want them that is."♫
Elurius then turns to Lirotha. ♫"As for the Silver Council... I'm thinking it would be great to get a group of people who can mobilize the general populace. Not recruit people to our ranks specifically, but allow community leaders and the Ravens to collaborate on things. If we are to truly take Thrune out of power here, we are also liable to cause massive upheavals and overturn many civil structures and works. The council could allow us to quickly fill in those gaps and allow a smoother transition. For example, the other day when we took down the guard house, with the council we could try working an arrangement with the leaders to have a group of people who could act as guards or police set to take over quickly versus letting the area go with out some protection until either Thrune or we have a chance to replace them."♫
Oren nods at Elu’s suggestions. ”You and Rocco doing some scouting is probably a good idea. If it too great a risk or guarded too well, we can just leave them be until we come up with a different idea.”
The temple appears to be active for much of the day, offering lots of time for its parishioners to approach and use the facility as they like. The items in question appear to be stored in a small alcove outside of the main chapel, various belts and headbands all silver with raven filigree sprawled all over.
Oren will be on the outside, looking around.
Perception
Elurius takes on the form of a cleaning halfling and sneaks into the building, keeping an eye on the alcove and on the people in and around the building.
However the very act of cleaning disgusts the woman so much she gets distracted by it more than half the time.
Rocco also heads into the temple in a set of plain black clothes with a simple holy symbol of Asmodeus on a chain around his neck. He goes through some of the usual rituals to perform his reverence, but makes sure to take a stroll past the alcove where the treasures are situated to scope things out.
[ooc]Before heading into the temple, Rocco also would cast Heightened Awareness on himself to sharpen his eyes to look out for trouble.