"Thank you... Kishta, was it? I appreciate it. If there is anything I can help with in return...? I would offer to kill Gaedren Lamm, as it sounds like you had no appreciation for the man either, but..."
Kishta allowed herself to exhale, and remove her hand from her hilt. "Shelyn's lark, you always were a chatterbox, no matter how many times I cuffed you for it." Kishta turned away before she could see if Raina had placed her yet -- she didn't dare see what sort of recognition might be in her eyes. "I had hair, once," she offered. "Brown, raggedly short when you knew me. Does that help? Or maybe you remember this?"
Kishta raised her left hand as if to strike her with its back, then lowered it to her side. She circled the table towards the woman, then met her gaze and continued in a calm voice.
"I'm afraid I'm not rich, Raina, and I don't know of homes for so many. I have friends who might take in a few, as they did me." Kishta smiles. "We're not as...restrained...as the Sarenites when it comes to liberating the oppressed, though."
Raina seems puzzled at first, a deep frown marring her features, but when Kishta raises her hand, the young woman's eyes open wide with recognition - and a hint of long-repressed fear. In an instant the terror is gone, replaced by a guarded stance and a despondent glare.
"I thought I'd seen enough ghosts for one week," Raina mutters angrily. "Getting reminded of Lamm was bad enough. Seeing all these people from back then..." She shakes her head. "I thought I managed to move past all that stuff. Why can't old ghosts just stay dead?"
Raina is quick to make for the bar, helping herself to the strongest thing she can spy at a glance and quickly skulling an entire glass of it. She smiles grimly at seeing Kishta so the same thing.
"You've certainly changed," she says evenly, although a hint of a wry smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "I s'pose we all have. And at least you seem a bit more legit than Sev..." Raina turns to Kishta and holds out her hand to the young Shoanti woman. "No harm, no foul, eh? No holding a grudge for the s#!& that happened back then. It was all his fault, anyway."
When it becomes clear that Russ' niece has had an even worse fate befall her, Raina turns quite cold, and she's even visibly shaking just a little. "That scumbag," she spits. "I hope he rots in Hell for eternity."
"Count me in to find her too, Russ. Once I get these kids settled in to wherever they're going--after the ruckus outside calms down, that is--I'll do whatever it takes to find Mara." Raina cracks her knuckles to emphasise her point with a cheeky grin. "I'll even do it pro bono."
"As crazy as the city is right now, the group needs every hand it could get, I'm sure. I'd be in to help the mission to find her as well, if you'd have me."
"I hate to be the voice of reason here, but do we even know where Lamm would have taken her? It's not like Korvosa allows slavery here. Whoever has Mara could be long gone."
Talliree looks at the others, her eyes sad despite the tone of her voice.
"Did you search Lamm closely? Knowing him, he might have had to keep a written log of all his activities to keep everything straight..."
"You've certainly changed," she says evenly, although a hint of a wry smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "I s'pose we all have. And at least you seem a bit more legit than Sev..." Raina turns to Kishta and holds out her hand to the young Shoanti woman. "No harm, no foul, eh? No holding a grudge for the s@~+ that happened back then. It was all his fault, anyway."
Kishta meets Raina's gaze and nods at her words. Part of her wanted to explain, to justify her actions. Every time the Shepherd beat someone to death, it was because I didn't keep them in line -- I was just trying to keep you alive. But there was no justification. And forgiveness was more than she'd ever expected. Kishta takes Raina's hand and shakes it. "Thank you," she says, then pours them both another drink. "To ghosts that stay dead," she toasts.
She listens as the others discuss how to go about finding Mara.
"Didn't Brask say he had contacts who might be able to point us in the right direction? Or could the kids describe the man who took her away? I guess we could look through the old Shepherd's records, but it wouldn't surprise me if he just scribbled them on random scraps of paper. Worth a try, though."
"I am truly grateful for all of your offers of help. Until we find out more from Brask's contacts, though, I have no idea where to even start looking. Talliree here is right. I won't give up hope... not until there's some proof that she is... gone... but I will not waste my time chasing shadows. We need more information."
"Well then, ye'll be wantin' ta come with me."
Brask waves Russwin over to where he was standing.
"Never give up hope," Raina agrees fervently. If she's not shooed away, she'll follow Russ and Brask to see his 'contact', at least at a glance.
Russ goes with Brask and the others. "Hope... desperation... I can hardly tell the difference any more, but something keeps me going."
"You saw how crazy that crowd outside is. Anywhere in town will be like that. I'd say if someone plans on traveling, it'd be a good idea for them to have as much company as possible. I'd be willing to tag along, if that is acceptable."
Brask chuckles at Rhade's words.
"O' course, although I think ye might wanna save yer concern. If ye wanna come, better follow me."
With that, Brask leads them through the kitchen where Raseri was cooking with a red-faced Chelish man. He starts to speak, his tone filled with command, arrogance, and just a hint of contempt.
"Brask! We nee--"
"Shaddup Vargo. Ye ain't losin' yer job." Brask cuts him off. "least not if ye learn ta keep yer mouth shut." He adds under his breath as he leads the party to a door beside the pantry.
The lighting is dim, but the stairs are well made and maintained. Now one has trouble making it and after going down about fifteen feet, the stairs turn and go another fifteen feet before ending in a cavernous basement. The air is dry and cool, and the smell of assorted pickled and dried goods fills the air with a cacophony of scents. The dwarf leads everyone to a door that is almost unnoticeable behind the stacks of crates and barrels. He stops and turns to the party.
"Tell no one of this." he rumbles out, as much a command as it is a threat. He turns opens the door revealing another short flight of stairs that ends in a room that is twenty feet by thirty feet. The low ceiling seems to make the air more stuffy, despite the perceptible chill. The furnishings are sparse, only a table and a couple of chairs. in the corners lie scraps of wood from crates and barrels. At the table stands a hunched figure with decidedly rodent-like features. Despite his r's coming out as low growls, his manners are warm and inviting.
"Ah, Brrrrrask. My old frrriend. Tell me, how arrrre yourrrr boys and girrrrls doing?"
"E'ryone's doin' fine, I suppose. Got a gaggle o' kids that I need ta either find work or homes fer."
"Hmmm, so I had hearrrrrrd, but we arrre being rrrrude to yourrrr guests arrre we not? If you do not mind intrrrroducing yourrrrselves, I am Minus, a long-time frrriend of Brrrrask."
Rhade nods at the rodent-like creature as her tail twirls around her. "Greetings to you, I am Rhade, servant of the Dawnflower."
Tusilak looks curiously at Minus, "I am Tusilak, shaman of the Skoan-Quah. It is good to make your acquaintance Minus."
Rhade nods at the rodent-like creature as her tail twirls around her. "Greetings to you, I am Rhade, servant of the Dawnflower."
Minus smiles as Rhade introduces herself.
"It is a pleasurrre to meet such a rrrrrare flowerrrr."
Tusilak looks curiously at Minus, "I am Tusilak, shaman of the Skoan-Quah. It is good to make your acquaintance Minus."
His eyes open a little wider when he hears Tusilak mention his clan.
"One of Thousand Bones', yes? I admirrre yourrrrr mentorrr, but I fearrrr the turrrrmoil of late has undo much of what he has done. Still it is good to meet on of the keepers of the dead."
Russ nods in greeting to Minus, "I am Russwin Ardath, a native of our fair city..."
Is he... a rat person...? Great...
Kishta squints at the hunched figure. "Greetings, Minus. I am Kishta Feathersmoke. I've never met one such as yourself before, but today seems to be a day when many things happen for the first time."
Raina arches a brow at this 'Minus' fellow. She seems a little wary--everyone knew tales of wererats lingering in the sewers and shadows of the town, after all--but eventually decides to trust in Brask's good judgement.
"Hello, Minus. My name's Raina. I take it you are someone who... knows things, right? An information broker."
"We were hoping you might know something about a child that Gaedren Lamm sold. Her name is Mara..."
Russ goes on to describe his niece in the same manner that he did with Brask and the others.
If this rat person is anything like a real rat, he can get places that the rest of us can't... but that doesn't mean I should trust him...
Russ tries to gauge Minus' behavior and response to hearing about Mara's predicament. Does the ratfolk really intend to help them? And might there be strings attached?
"Indeed it is and indeed I could be called that, though it's best to not let the Arrrrrkonas hearrr of it."
Minus puzzles over Russ' description of his young niece for a moment, repeating her name over and over in the same growling voice. With a sigh he looks up from his contemplation.
"I fearrrr I do not, but Brrrrask was wise to come to a fellow followerrrrr of the Lucky Drrrrunk. I have some favorrrs that can be called in."
He sighs again at his inability to help Russ, but the shadow passes.
"We will find wherrrre she went, but I believe that I was called to sell some of the, ah, 'goods' you 'rrecoverrrred' frrrrom Lamm's lairrrr."
Rhade looks around, not exactly sure what goods were found previously. Se waits for the others to lead the discussion with the rat folk.
"I am a student of Thousand Bones and it seems you bear terrible news." Tusilak brings out the items that we've decided to sell. "Brask says we should sell them. I'll tell you that I'd rather find their owners, but he seems to think it is hopeless. Perhaps we can put the gold to a use that will benefit the entire city."
"Hrrrrm. I can trrry to find theirrrr forrrrmerrr ownerrrrs, but Brrrrrask is rrrright. The odds of finding the rrrright ownerrrr is slim. Some will think I am trrrrying to trrrrick them. Lamm has been a currrse on Korrvosa forrrr many yearrrs. Therrrre is no way to know how long some of these things have been in his possession."
Minus' yellow eyes shine from beneath the hood.
"Still, I will pay you a fairrr prrice. Worrrk should not go unrrrrewarrded, and you have my worrd that I will do everrrything I can to rrrreturrrn these to theirrr ownerrrs."
Raina remains relatively quiet throughout the exchange, content to leave the bargaining up to Tusilak. She feels the business is a little too shady for her to get too involved in with a good conscience, although contents herself with the fact that the rat-man did seem honest enough with regards to his promises to try and return the stolen goods somehow. She gives Russ an encouraging smile as she waits for things to be wrapped up; See! Never give up hope!
"That sounds like a deal Minus. What are you willing to offer for these items?"
Russ watches Minus carefully, but the ratfolk seems trustworthy enough - and if the others are comfortable selling their findings to him, what business is it of mine anyway?
He returns Raina's smile with a small one of his own. She seems a bit uncomfortable about all of this, too. I wonder what her story is? If she hates Lamm as much as I do... it can't be a happy one. He glances around the room... I don't suppose anyone around here has a very happy story, though.
Minus goes through the items one by one, pausing to admire the teak cigar case, and quickly hiding the figurine of the succubi once he had looked it over.
"That one will go quickly in Cliffside."
The appraisal goes quickly, that is until he takes a close look at the brooch with a broken clasp. His go wide as he quickly looks over the entirety of it. He sets it gently on the table before pulling out a hip flask and taking a long pull. He slumps into one of the chairs, and takes a deep breath.
"Do any of you know what that is?"
Tusilak watches with concern as the ratfolk worries over the clasp, "Psudodragon and imp, right? Not a symbol I'm familiar with."
"I cannot say I am surrrrrprrrrised. This brrrrooch is Queen Illoesa's. It was stolen some months ago. I guess that is how Lamm came to possess it. This I cannot take. You will need to take it to the queen in castle Korrrvosa."
Minus takes another pull from the flask before looking into it sorrowfully and then turning upside down, only to have nothing come out. The hood falls off as he looks to the ceiling. Though it's hard to tell, the graying fur hints at a being going into middle age.
"Cayden's Cups this day is full of madness."
"How the hell are we going to get to see the queen?" Raina asks all those present, sounding rather incredulous that they'd picked up something so valuable. "It's crazy out there at the moment. Not to mention we'll probably be assumed to have stolen it ourselves."
"Good point, Raina. How would we not be suspects carrying something of the Queen? My...less than honorable heritage also might come back to haunt me in a dealing such as this."
"Perhaps we would be better off seeking one of her counselors rather than the queen herself. Are there any particularly known for not being too rash?"
"I don't know about you, but I think the Queen would take one look at me holding that brooch and throw me in the dungeons just for sullying it. I say we toss it in the river... I doubt she'll miss it, what with everything else going on. And what with being the Queen and all."
Kishta thinks about the journey this brooch has taken, from resting on the Queen's bosom, to passing through more and more miserable hands. She wonders how many of its owners have been killed for it's shine. Then she laughs.
"I'd be happy to present it to her myself, and tell her about the misery that has been allowed to fester in her city. This is what happens when you allow people such as him to operate in the city. Now that she is the ruler, she should be reminded of that. If she slaps me in chains for that...then this city has bigger problems than I thought."
"The seneschal is supposed to be level-headed, but some say he died when the rrrriots starrrrted at the base of the castle. Whether it's counselorrrs orrr the queen, you would still need to go to the castle."
Minus props himself on the table. Brask places a bottle of whiskey on the table.
"Still too dangerous ta go out there, my friend."
The dwarf looks a little sad seeing how tired Minus was looking.
"Not if they keep to the side rrrroads. The main ways arrrrre wherrre the rrriots arrrrre."
The ratfolk takes a swig straight from the bottle. He looks at the label before nodding his head in approval.
"You therrrre, Rrrrusswin. Thrrrrowing that into the rrriverrr is folly. Betterrrr to take it to the queen and rrrreturrrn it. She is grrrrieving herrr husbands death. Rrrregaining something thought lost will make herrr see you, all of you, with morrre favorrrr."
Raina looks incredibly skeptical at the proposition. "I sincerely doubt that even the counsellors would be happy to see us," she says with a frown. "It's not like any of us are some fancy rich types. Why would they see us? 'Oh yeah, we have this thing we think the queen lost...' Who the heck would believe that?"
She shakes her head. "But if you guys think it's worth a shot, I'll come with you... but only after I've sorted the kids out."
"I don't know the city as well as many of you, but is the leadership of Korvosa really so foolish that they would blame those who returned the brooch for its disappearance? Thousand Bones teaches that sowing small kindnesses will lead to a harvest of peace among our people. If the rest of you are afraid, I will not pass up this opportunity."
He turns to Kishta. "Sister, I share your disquiet with the plight of the city, but such harsh words need to be stilled before they cross our tongues. We can make this a better place for all that would dwell in Korvosa, but not if we drive a wedge between ourselves and those that can work with us for peace. Lamm should have been dealt with by others, but he has now received the judgement that should have been delivered long ago. Do not let his spirit continue to poison those that would work for hope."
Finally, the shaman turns back to Raina. "I share your concern Raina. I would like nothing better than to return Cataree to the Skaldwood and to help with better homes for the rest of the children. But, I trust Brask to watch them for us. Perhaps by the time we return the city will have calmed enough for us to bring them back out in the streets."
Russ shrugs. "I guess if you all think that returning the brooch will somehow get us on the Queen's good side, it's not a bad idea. Though it does sound a little... unlikely. As far as the kids go, we probably don't want to be taking them anywhere until we know the streets are safer. Brask, are you certain they'd be safe with you for the time being?"
Rhade nods. "Yes, trust me, the streets are not a place the children need to be at this time! I'm sure Brask will take good care of them, until everything settles down and they can be placed in a better place. I'm still not certain trying to get the brooch to the Queen right now is the best idea, but it is pretty...if it were mine, I would want it returned."
"Laddie, it'd take an orc horde ta get in here if I didn't want 'em too. Tha kiddos will be fine."
Brask smiles easy. Anyone who had been looking at how the place was built could easily see that this was no idle boast. The timbers the Dwarf's Axe was made of were thick stout ones.
"Well, I think we've a course of action, but there's just a small detail we have overlooked."
Talliree pipes up from Rhade's side, her face split by a smile. A moment later, a squealing noise can be heard from her direction.
"It's lunchtime and I think all of us are at least a little hungry."
Russ realizes that with everything that happened today, he hasn't eaten yet. "Now that you mention it..."
"Food sounds good to me," Raina agrees with a hearty grin. Somehow, she was starting to feel... lighter. Like that a heavy weight had been taken off her shoulders. Perhaps the events of the last few days were starting to sink in.
"Im never going to pass up a meal. If there's any meat here, could I get it on the rawer side, please," the tielfling asks, giving in to her more primal urges.
"Well, I doubt we're finding any street vendors out today and the likelihood of the queen inviting us to sup with her is even less. Yes, a good meal would be welcome."
"Well then, let's eat. You too Minus. I'm sure the food'll be better this time."
Brask leads the others back through and up. The walk through the kitchen is tense, not because of any nerves on Raseri's part, but the dirty looks Vargo was giving Brask. The thick, hairy man looked like he could spit acid. After a brief word with Raseri, he leads all of you back out into the common room, where some of Brask's employees were playing with the children.
"Did you get a new cook Brrrask? Varrrrgo did not seem pleased."
"He's not, but tha man can't cook worth a damn. I kept 'im 'cause no one else could either. If he gets pissy about it, then I'm gonna 'ave ta kick 'im out. Shame, he coulda been a good bouncer if he was willin' ta learn."
The dwarf turns to the bar, and almost jumps out of his skin when he sees Ralli not three feet from him. He rubs his face, and mutters something under his breath.
"Don't you dare breath a word o' this ta anyone. Got it?"
He waits a second for the girl to nod, once she does, he continues on, in a much friendlier voice.
"Good, tell tha others ta start washin' up. Lunch'll be ready in a little bit."
Ralli nods her head again, and moves out into the common area, going from group to group to tell them it was time to eat. Surprisingly, you can see Kin playing a board game with a few other children, from the smile on her face, she seems quite happy.
"I see that you have not changed much my frrriend."
"Couldnae leave 'er ta freeze ta death. Been one o' the hardest worker's I e'er 'ad. Sings like an angel too."