Rumal is startled, first by the woman, then by Guard Valerii. "I don't want any part... of torture... either. Isn't revenge... good enough? We need to... need to.. remove the threat, so no other children are taken." The time and seriousness of the situation has cleared his head a bit. He still slurrs a little, and pauses with his words.
He levers himself onto the table to reach out far enough to grab a card.
Gregorius is appaled at Cherry Blossom's vicious words. The mere mention of extreme violence sends shivers down his spine, the image of his father ever so present in his thoughts. He throws his fist at the table making the cards dance, and shows strong signs of emotion for the first time since he has arrived. He stands angrily and announces "No! I-I will not take part in torture! We will cleanly deliver the law and execute the d-death sentence he would otherwise receive if... if he hadn't bought his way out so many times!" He leans over the table breathing heavily, draws a card and places it beside Cherry's card in perfect alignment.
1d9
Lamm won't go quietly--I suspect he won't have a chance to be taken alive anyway.
Cherry is the first to draw a card. She reaches out a snaps a card out of the deck. Turning over the card reveals "The Cricket".
Zellara starts saying "The Cricket. This is an interesting card to have pulled, in the events yet to pass I forsee you jumping
through the blue sky elegantly like a cricket. You will find the right footing when it is most important."
Rumal is up next, drawning the next card. He turns the card over to reveal The Peacock. "This card represents something of a noble
demeanor. With its large feathers protecting it, this could mean some sort of noble's protector will be involved in your future. Or
there may be a a sudden personal change."
Gaius draws his card, turning it over to reveal The Avalanche. "Something terrible will happen soon in your future. A world can be
shattered and changed like with the power of a mountain sliding down."
Gregorius is next to draw his card. He turns it over to reveal The Crows. "Death surrounds you. It will encircle you like a plague
and bring you to your knees. A powerful outside force is drawing out your worldly pressence." Zellara looks a little taken back
after reading the fortune. "I... I'm sorry friend. Please be careful with Lamm, this card is a sign of terrible things to come."
Lastly Kessel grabs his card out, turning it over to reveal the Locksmith. "You may hold the key to rerectiving a bad situation. Or
it may mean the key to a new destiny."
She sits back and says "You all can reflec for a moment while I set up for a reading." She will collect the cards and begin shuffling once again.
Zellara will stop shuffling and begin drawning cards. She places them face down in a three by three pattern. She will motion for everyone to take a seat. "Please I will now read the fortunes of things have come to be, things that are, and things that are yet to come."
She first turns over the first column to reveal the cards "The Inquistor", "The Twin", and "The Tyrant". "There was a harsh abrupt reality forced upon someone. They had two paths in front of them. I also see a terrible person placed in a position of power." Next she turns over the next three cards: "The peacock", "The Brass Dwarf", and "The Publican". "Currently, the personal goals of one are changing to a new outlook. The one you seek is invulnerable to the ones seeking them. There is no place for them to hide." She turns over the last three cards to reveal "The Cricket", "The Demon's Lantern", and "The Rabbit Prince". "There will be fleeting feet in the futre that will end in an impossible situation. This will lead to an inevietable battle between forces that were once called allies."
At this point she turns to all of you and says "I have done what I can to help you. Please return here after you have brought Lamm to justice. I offer you any reward within my power, I just wish to see my son's murderer shown the way of his crimes."
Zellara's riddles are incomprehensible to Gregorius' orderly, cartesian mind. The dark omen preditected to him doesn't even seem to shake him; instead, he grows agitated by the uncertainty of the fortune-teller's words.
"I... I... what does it all mean? It-it makes no sense to me. Let's just go Westpier and get this over with."
After having drawn his card, and been told what it represents, Rumal decides "There must be a noble's protector in my future. I know I don't need any *BURP* personal changes." His slurring diminshed, but still signs of it can be heard in it when he speaks.
As the fortune-teller goes through her performance, Rumal glazes over, only half listening. He never did much fall for their tricks. When she flips over the card he drew personally, he does get a little excited, "Hey! That's the card I drew. The Peacock." after which he puffs up like one, but still only half listens to what the woman has to say.
After she finishes, he turns to the others, "So, we know where he is right? Is everyone planning on going there now? If so, do you think we could stop real quick and grab a drink on our way? I'm a little parched from all the excitement."
He gazes deep into Kessel's eyes with a cold, serious stare. "No. Not vengeance. Justice."
Trying to convince himself that they are about to do the right thing, Gregorius merely whispers "It makes all the difference in the world."
Gaius focuses on his own card, and the accompanying prediction.
An avalanche, huh? Evil may befall me, but as long as Lamm is swept up in the avalanche as well, I'll consider it a good trade.
After the reading, the inquisitor listens to the debate about vengeance vs justice.
Shall we formulate a plan? If we can...subdue one of Lamm's agents, I can pose as him long enough to get the rest of you closer. Any ideas where to start?
When he says 'subdue' he glances sidelong at Gregorius.
Rumal nods, "A plan, indeed. You can't just go throwing anything nearby into a boiling pot. You need to take stock of your ingredients. Do we even know who his agents are?" He licks his lips in anticipation, "We should grab a drink for the road, and go have a look at the place first."
"I agree we should first scout the place to see what's going on there. I can do that, maybe some of you know how to sneak and can join me? The rest stays a little behind as backup in case anything goes wrong. After we gather some intelligence, we can decide on a course of action, perhaps even getting Gaius as an inside man. Let's see how things go." The confidence with which Gregorius pans out his plan is surprising.
Rumal scowls back at the man, before plunking down in his chair in a huff, his arms crossed. He wrinkles his nose in disgust, and mutters under his breath, mockingly "No more drinks... geez, it's not like one little drink is so bad."
It doesn't stop him making his two previous points again. "Are we going now, and don't you think we should find out who or what else is there before we decide how we are going to deal with them?"
"Hey, I suggested it. I plan on going too, you know." Rumal protests.
The Elf woman's eyes have been glazed & glassy since her outburst, seemingly uncomprehending the hostess actions or words. However, with the Gnome's pouting at being denied another drink her features suddenly gain animation once more. "You've already had your 'one drink', wee one. Is another & the others to follow worth more to you than that which you lost to Lamm? If so, GO! Have your drink. Drown your sorrows & drown any chance at your own vengeance." Turning to Gregorius, "No, seek not , nor do you, though you might like to tell yourself so. Justice 'been knifed in an alley & left to die alone where Lamm is concerned. Your God of Walls & Ditches has no part in this, nor wants one..."
"! This is 'the Sting's' task we take. Postulant & Avatar both, each & every one of us."
Her vision & voice now clear, Blossom looks about at the others. "T'would be best if those of us taking part in the scouting were still close enough to aid, if aid needed."
"Ok. I'll need some tools, in case we need to break into Lamm's hideout quietly. I can get them early tomorrow. Right now, my suggestion is to wait until tomorrow and choose a meeting point near Westpier 17. We'll meet there at nightfall. This will also give time for Rumal here to sober up. We'll have time to make any preparations necessary. Is that alright?"
Gregorius takes a step back after Cherry Blossom's outburst. Still inflamed by the soldier spirit awakened by the strategic planning of their mission, he points a finger in Cherry Blossom's face and replies "I tell you again, I will not have torture happen before me." Suddenly, acknowledging his odd and authoritative behavior, he shrinks back to the shy and timid man that stood there but a few minutes earlier. "I-I... I... n-no torture ... that's not right."
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Kes looks impressed and looks to Cherry Blossom and Gregorius. He decides not to take a side. "I will keep the gnome company, and make sure he doesn't decide to take in a few extra drinks drinks. We will be ready when you are Gregorius."
With that Kes goes and sits down next to Rumal. He also takes some of the delicious desert bread and begins to eat it while watching Rumal.
Gaius nods in approval at the suggestions.
If we're waiting until tomorrow to make our move, Gregorius, Kessel, and Rumal, are you going to stake out Lamm's hideout tonight? Nothing too risky until we're all together, but you might be able to get some valuable information and at least see who's coming and going.
Cherry, I know a few local watering holes that Lamm's cronies frequent most nights. How'd you like to go 'fishing' with me, see if we can't catch us a nice, fat trout?
Rumal maintains a steady scowl, all these big folk barking orders at him. "What's up with you all? Act like having a drink is a sin, man. What would Cayden Cailean say?. I was just saying. You know? Geez!"
Like the Shoanti, he stays out of the disagreement between the other two. Like he said, he didn't want anything to do with torture, but if she was so determined then he'd just leave the room. It's not like she's doing it for fun, and he is a bad man that probably deserves worse. If she has the stomach for, then it's up to her.
As the same big man mentions watching him, like he needs a baby-sitter, he's adds his thoughts, "Well, I would like to get this over with sooner, rather than later, and be done with it. Why can't we just wander by and have a glance at the place from the side streets. That way we can be over with it by the end of tomorrow night. and I can have a drink."
"Right. We can do a stakeout, then," Gregorius says, including Rumal and Kessel, [b]"while you two go look for some information on Lamm's men". With these words, he heads to the door, prepared for a night of surveillance. "We can take turns sleeping at the site so we won't be too tired tomorrow."
Rumal, looking like he does as a vagrant, blends right in to the surrounding area. All the while he watches with the eyes of a man who is accustomed to dealing with precise measurements.
The three of you will head out towards the fishery.
This part of town you are heading towards is known as one of the poorer parts of the city. It has not been labeled a dangerous area but Zellara is not sure as to how long Lamm has been here.
As you all make your way there you will notice fewer and fewer street lights. It is now to the point where Kessel and Gregorious are having alot of trouble seeing while Rumal is only having a little difficulty. You come upon the old building. It looks like it is a combination of abandoned and still in use. The reek of brine and the stink of week-dead fish hang thickly in the air here. The old double doors in the side of this weathered building are tightly closed, with a drooping signpost hanging above. The sign it once displayed is long gone, leaving behind only a single short length of rusted chain.
It does not seem to have much activity going on at this time.
You are able to make out a small dock off to the right that looks like it goes go around that side of the building. You also can make out a loading dock on the left but it is surrounded by a fence.
You have seen places like this before. When someone dies and has named no heir in their will, their businesses, homes, and valuables are placed in a state of waiting by the city. They are held for up to 2 years waiting for someone to place a rightful claim to the property. If no one does then the city takes everything. Well smart crooks have been known to abuse this time of waiting and take over these properties, essentially living for free for years at a time. Lamm probably moved in here after the previous owner died with no named person in his will.
Rumal peers around the streets as they walk, adding "This isn't even a good place for a cheap drink. Too many poor around here, make business too tough to maintain."
As they watch the place, Rumal notices the blank looks of someone not seeing through the dark, in the eyes of his companions. "Hey, you guys see the small dock down around the side? Maybe there's a back door?"
"Y-yes, I'm... I'm having difficulties too." Gregorius squints his eyes trying to spot the dock. "D-do you think that could be a way in, Rumal?"
Gregorius looks around the neighborhood for a moment and looks lost in thoughts. Then, he announces "I think I know why Lamm chose this place. It has probably been placed in a state of waiting by the city. Without a rightful owner, these buildings remain desert and unsupervised." He goes on to explain the relevant law pertaining to the matter.
Rumal shrugs, then realizes that the motion may have gone unnoticed by their human eyes. "I could go get a closer look? Maybe circle as far as I can around that side just to see if I spot a door or anything? I definitely don't want to risk setting off any warning system the man might have in place." He offers, sounding unsure of the idea even as he suggests it. He chimes up with a little additional thought. "I probably look more like I belong here than you two, and I DO have to relieve myself."
"I noticed what looks like a dock on the othor side, but there's a fence around it, so I figured that would be too much ruckus getting over." he throws in as an afterthought
You two head out then. Where do you go and what are you looking for?
Gaius and Cherry well head out to a tavern more on that side of town. Upon getting there you get the feel that this is a rougher side of town. You are able to talk to a few people looking for information. You find a few guys that know of Lamm but not any of his actual cronies. You are able to talk to a human girl as well who can't be much older that 15, she refers to Lamm as her dealer. She is completely coked out and looks to be having trouble keeping her sanity.
You are able to get some meaningful information out of one of the drunks. He will say "hic... I drank with a gnome named Hookshanks a few times. The fella was pretty loose with his lips about being one of Lamm's men.." Stops to take a drink. "boasting about some "powerful" position in a growing business. He was also showing off this exotic sword lookin thing, he had stolen from some foreigner visiting Korvosa. Poor guy comes to this fine city just to get mugged and Iomedae knows what else. I think he called it a Kukri"
You are able to acquire this information in just over an hour at the bar.
Gaius smiles as his source reveals his information.
Thanks friend, your next drink is on me. Say, you know where I can find this Hookshanks? He signals another round to the bartender, throwing down a few coppers before looking at Cherry and motioning towards the door.
"Was it a kind of forward-curved blade, kind of like some odd axe-knife-like thing?" Blossom interjects, her body only just closer than the drunk might be comfortable with.
"Well, hello there pretty lady. You here to buy me a drink too?" With a drunken smile he turns to hit on Cherry. "That gnome, haven't seen him around here in a fort night. I would know I come here every day." He motions the bar tender for another ale.
"I think he hangs around in the old district. Not much over there and it can get dangerous after dark. He should shower more though, smelled like fish the last time." At this point he gets his new ale and grabs cherry's butt. "So are you gonna come keep me warm tonight? Ha ha ha."
That's not going to go over well...thinks Gaius, watching the drunk make a dangerous mistake. If this turns into a brawl, we'll draw unwanted attention to ourselves.
The inquisitor smiles at Cherry in an attempt to diffuse the situation--So, shall we go then?