Garmen sits behind the desk/bar and slumps in his chair. "Just... go. But if you don't come back from down there, I'm outta here."
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Inlé is able to find an appropriately-sized box to transport Georg's head in.
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Whitefang is quite amenable to more smoked meats from the aasimar priest.
Sialea nodded and said, "Of course she is, I guess we need to find a way to make that lift work...." She looked towards where the machine was and then the guards and said, "Could you arrange for that to be transported to Papa's house? He's going to want to study that and we might be able to find a way to prevent an attack like this in the future. We need to get going." She looked back at Garmen and said, "Thank you."
Looking to her friends Sialea rose and said, "Let's go, we need to speak with Papa, he might know of something to make the lift work, and I want to stop and see Wrennie, to let her know Rinnie has been avenged."
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Inlé nods before patting his box. ”Got her present wrapped up all nice and tight.”
The guards sigh and nod, looking between the despondent Garmen and the headless Georg. "We'll be sure to bring it by the Foundry. I hope you lot know what you're doing."
----------------
The temple of Brigh is but a few streets to the south of the warehouse district, and it takes a half-hour of walking before they once again alight upon its oil-scented stone steps. The chapel has several people inside it, and Artificer Kyte is lecturing the congregation on the finer points of fluid mechanics--presumably for improving the quality of water in town.
Sitting behind a desk off the side of the main aisle is Acolyte Sarona, with a group of children gathered around her. They're watching her with interest as she dextrously handles a small clockwork, rabbit-like toy in her hands. She sets it down and winds up a key on the clockwork rabbit's flank before letting it go. It makes a series of small *clicking* noises as it hops across the desk. One of the kids makes a grab for it before the priestess plucks it from his hands. "I would suggest you ask your parents for permission to buy these, first."
The redheaded android puts the clockwork rabbit in a box next to a dozen more identical toys before she looks up and sees the party.
"Hello Sarona." Edynn says in greeting, a tiny smile touching the corners of her mouth as she observes the clockwork rabbit.
Following in behind Edynn, Inlé watches in awe at the clockwork rabbit.
With their first stop the temple of Brigh Sialea walked in with her friends and watched as Sarona manipulates the clockwork bunny while the kids watched. It was kind of sweet, though she doubted the android knew it, and when she saw the thing start hopping across the table she felt a sense of wonder. Clockwork may not be her 'thing' as it were but the way it moved and the children seemed entranced made her feel lighthearted, something she needed right now.
When they approached the priestess Sia smiled and said, "Hi Sarona, we were coming to see Papa and ask him a question but maybe you would have an answer for us. We've managed to disable the device that kept the Torch out and we plan to go deal with the cause of the problem, some kind of cult led by an android woman to some god that is as yet unidentified. The problem is we need to activate a lift down there and to do that we need something to connect the two portions of the equipment." She arched one eyebrow inquiringly, "Do you know what we might use to accomplish that?"
Sarona listens to Sialea's request, her brow furrowing at the mention of the culprit for the Torch's deactivation. She then looks down at the children and bids them to return to their parents.
After a minute of thinking, the young android's lips tighten and her eyes meet Sialea's gaze again. "This is quite surprising... I do not believe I have any idea what piece of technology you require."
"Follow me--I will take you to Councillor Baine's quarters." She stands up from her desk, tucks the box of clockwork rabbits under her arm, and moves off to a side corridor from the main lecture hall.
Khonnir's room is sparsely decorated, but clean. The man is sitting up in his cot, eating a bowl of rice and being careful not to spill a single grain. He looks up when Sarona leads the group to him, his eyes brightening when he sees Sialea.
He swallows his rice. "My little girl. And her friends."
”Hello.” Inlé greets the man, but doesn’t add anything else.
As they walked with Sarona Sialea nodded and sighed slightly at the android's words. "I had hoped to let Papa rest but he's our best bet on someone who can point us in the right direction it seems." She glanced to the said where Sarona walked and then said, "Those rabbits of yours are very well made. I've never cared much for clockwork but I must say I am impressed with them," a smile entered Sia's voice as she finished, "and the kids seem to love them."
When they entered her Papa's room Sia went quickly up to him and threw her arms around his neck in a hug as she kissed his cheek. Releasing him and stepping back she said, "Hi Papa." She looked him over and said, "I'm glad you're doing better, we were very worried." She looked for a place to sit and then moved to the edge of the cot and sat carefully as she said, "We've found the source of the Torch's problems and shut it down. Now we have to deal with a cult led by some android woman that is further inside the ruins where we found you. There was a lift and we need something to bridge the two parts of the mechanism." She went into a description of the mechanism and what they needed then asked him, "Do you know what we need or where to find it?"
Khonnir listens to his daughter's explanation, his expression turning pensive. "This is troubling news indeed... but I do believe I know the piece of technology you speak of."
"You'll need an insulated connector to bridge the two wires you need together--especially if the wires are live. If we had the time, I'd make one myself, but as it stands..." He looks down at his legs and grimaces. "...no pun intended--I can't yet walk."
"I do know of someone in town that deals in technology--his name is Sanvil Trett. He has a stall in the Torch marketplace--perhaps he'll be of help."
Cheered immensely by Khonnir's information Sialea leaned in and gave him another hug as she said cheerily, "Thanks Papa, I knew you'd be able to help us." She rose from her place and looked to the others, "We'd better go and meet this merchant. This may be something he has to search for."
Turning back to Khonnir, Sia said, "Oh, and Papa, I got the guards to bring the power relay that caused this problem to the workshop so we can examine it. I don't think we've had the chance to look at one that is fully functioning."
Khonnir looks quite surprised at the news of a power relay in town. Surprised and more lively than before.
"Oh? I must admit, I never would have imagined something like that would turn up in town--"
He wrinkles his nose, and sniffs the air. "Er... what's that coppery smell?"
”All the copper here?” Inlé replies while holding his box and looking around.
It made Sia happy to see Papa perk up so much. When he mentioned the smell she sniffed the air and tried to detect what he meant.
Inlé’s box smells very coppery.
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Sia realized where the smell was coming from and blushed a bit. "Um, it's teh box there." She pointed to Inle, "It's something of a gift for Wrennie." She quickly shifted and headed towards the door, "Whelp, we need to go guys, Papa, I'll see you later. I look forward to studying the Power Relay when you're up for it."
Khonnir's quizzical look follows the party as they leave the room and temple.
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The day passes at what feels like a crawl as the party leaves the temple of Brigh and walks the streets of Torch again. More people are out and about, and they're giving a wide berth to a group of rough-looking men in leathers hauling the large power relay out of the warehouse district--even with a cart and several people pulling it, it's slow going.
The Merrymaid looks much the same as it does when the party left it today. There appears to be more patrons here than there were last time, and Wrennie is sitting on the divan in the brothel's foyer, making conversation with a couple--one a half-orc with several scars over his right eye and a savage topknot, the other a slender human woman with brown hair and full curves. Her teal dress leaves barely anything to the imagination.
Wrennie nods and bids the couple on their way, and the half-orc puts several gold pieces into her hands before scooping up his companion and carrying her upstairs. The prostitute giggles as he does so.
The madame bids the party to approach her. "You return... and swiftly."
”Yep-yep, and we brought you a present!” Inlé says while holding the box above his head... putting it at almost waist level for most people present.
Sialea watched in interest as Wrennie spoke with the patron and the prostitute he had chosen. She saw the money exchange hands and the half-orc scoop her up and head to the bedrooms. When Wrennie approached them Sia said, "Yes, we should probably go to your office and we can tell you about what happened."
Wrennie's face breaks out into a satisfied smile and she wordlessly bids the party to follow her into her office.
Once they're there, she sits behind her desk and glances up at the very lewd paintings she has for a bit before turning back to the party and eying them expectantly.
With a hop Inlé promptly sets the box up on the desk. Landing, he kept his feet firmly planted on the ground.
”Sorry it’s not wrapped very well.” he sounded both excited and genuinely apologetic as he spoke. It was getting hard to contain how giddy he was.
Sia gestured to the box once Inle placed it there and waited for Wrennie to open it before she said, "We convinced the other thugs to leave the warehouse unguarded with only Georg to protect the place. We managed to kill Georg, tame his snow leopard partly, and shut down the device just in time to take Garmen into custody. We got Garmen to spill everything on the one behind the plot in exchange for partial leniency and now know where the real mastermind behind the whole plot against Torch is hiding at."
Wrennie opens the box, and pulls back for a moment as the smell of blood washes over her face. After a bit of coughing, she looks more closely at the box's contents before smiling wickedly. "Ah--hello again, Georg. Are you sorry now?"
"Perhaps."
"We convinced the other thugs to leave the warehouse unguarded with only Georg to protect the place. We managed to kill Georg, tame his snow leopard partly, and shut down the device just in time to take Garmen into custody. We got Garmen to spill everything on the one behind the plot in exchange for partial leniency and now know where the real mastermind behind the whole plot against Torch is hiding at."
"...impressive." Wrennie fixes her eyes on Sialea. "Most impressive indeed."
"Now, I believe you are owed a reward..." She slides a smooth, flaxen hand into a desk drawer and pulls out a leather bag that jingles as she sets it down. "...200 gold pieces, and perhaps something more...?"
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Sia was more than a bit revolted by the severed head but she tried not to show it. She was pleased that Wrennie was happy with the results and took the pouch from her when it was offered. She wasn't sure what else the others might want but she had a guess what Wrennie meant by her question.
As you would have it, Ms. Baine. Would you like to begin today, or later?
The madame's hands fold in her lap and she looks at the party with a satisfied eye.
Sia seemed nervous as she waited for her friends to speak up or decide to leave.
"Oh wow, thank you." Inlé says, having completely forgotten about getting a reward. Someone else is going to have to get it though, I don't think she'd appreciate me jumping up onto her desk.
"Thank you. We appreciate it and it was......right that he be punished for the hurt he caused." Edynn says stepping forward to accept the bag. "When you say more, is there something you suggest? I am not that proficient with subtlety."
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”Sex?”
Wrennie smirks and looks Edynn & Inlé over. "Well, I would be lying if I said that wasn't the first thought that came into my head. But, if you're more inclined towards more material goods, I could perhaps indulge you."
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Edynn meets Wrennie's gaze noting what she thought signified amusement. "Your initial proposal would be quite acceptable. I find the intricacies of such interactions to be......fascinating....and quite satisfactory." she replies.
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He went to open his mouth, then shut it again. A pause his mouth opening... again he closed it without noise.
"That is the sort of reward best left to those not happily married i'm afraid, glad we could help you get revenge. I dont suppose any of your girls or boys i suppose double as babysitters?I'll wait outside in the foyer while you all uh discuss rewards."
He mused idly with a slight grin and a even slighter shake of his head. He rose making his way torwards the door.
Inlé thought about making a quip about not being tall enough for any of these rides... but realized she might have gnomes or halflings on employ so let the thought go. Looking at the bag of coins Edynn is holding he instead asks ”Um, what other material goods were you thinking about? This is already plenty, and we weren’t doing this for a reward anyway.”
Wrennie looks over at Inlé, and her eyes are drawn to the massive greatsword he's carrying with him. "Well, if you wished, I could direct you to someone who could enchant that sword of yours. It looks to be of fine make--and I could pay for it."
"As for you..." The madame stands up from her desk and directs her gaze to Edynn, sliding a piece of paper from her pocket. "...do you prefer the company of men or women? Or do you have a preference at all?"
Let me attend to your android friend's desires first, then we can see about beginning your training.
"Wow, really? That would be great, I'd like to accept... but I'd feel bad if I did, you've already given us so much," Inlé replies while his thoughts and feelings on the subject warred.
"What do you feel would be a suitable reward then, sir?" Wrennie tilts her head at the bunny.
"I wasn't expecting a reward so I don't know, I was just glad we we were able to help you." the bunny replies.
"Hmm." Wrennie puts a hand to her chin in thought. "I'll tell you what--I will owe you a favour, to be called in at a time of your choosing. Favours can be as great a reward as a new blade, or jewels. How about it?"
”Um, okay!” Inlé happily agrees.
Wrennie nods and turns back to Edynn, handing her the slip of paper from her pocket. "Choose which one you wish to spend time with, and I will make the introductions."
1. Kett Ice-Blood: A brown-haired, muscular man of Kellid descent, Kett caters generally to the lusts of women. Enjoys having friendly sparring sessions with willing martially-inclined women as foreplay, and prides himself on learning the histories of many martial arts styles… even if he hasn’t yet learned that many himself.
2. Soveliss Naïlo: This lean, flexible elven man prefers the company of intelligent men & women. He enjoys thoughtful debates on topics & games of strategy, and enjoys slaking a customer’s intellectual lusts as well as their physical ones.
3. Cassandarius: A chiseled jaw, closely-cut black hair and a body that appears to have been sculpted from marble. An art connoisseur, and experienced in multiple artistic techniques.
4. Ryker Thorne: The newest addition to Wrennie’s staff. Youthful exuberance, red hair in a ponytail and dextrous fingers that can make the most repressed of clients sing with sheer ecstasy.
5. Orvin Minoir: With a svelte figure and impressive, welcoming voice that draws men and women alike to him like moths to a flame, this Garundi man was a singer from Daggermark before falling in with Wrennie. Sometimes his clients prefer his sexual talents, and sometimes they hire him just to hear him sing.
WOMEN
1. Aaliyah Dawn: A young woman of Qadiran descent who LOVES rough sex. Has long black hair that falls to partway down her back, and tends to dress in white silks. Prefers physically powerful clients—as long as they know when to stop. Knows quite a bit about various historical landmarks around the Inner Sea.
2. Tyralandi of Gralton: A runaway priestess from the city-state of Gralton, this lady carries herself with a quiet dignity. Her blonde hair is cut short around her neck, and she prefers the yellow & black leathers of her faith. She caters to those clients in search of a more ‘dominant’ experience.
3. Nactra Ischade: The tallest member of Wrennie’s staff (matched only by the impressive Kett), this young half-orc woman is very comely. With green-tinted skin and well-groomed, short black hair, this muscular beauty is quite gentle, and enjoys biting during sex. She’s a great listener, whether her client is male, female, rich or poor.
4. Nadia Gallant: Preferring to dress in teal silks and being pampered by prospective partners, this young brunette may be high-maintenance, but she’ll reward you with a night of mind-blowing passion if you can keep up with her.
5. Jasmine Kinaria: A former Ropefist who sought more fulfilling employment than working for Garmen Ulreth. Of mixed Kellid & Varisian descent, this olive-skinned young woman is very flexible, and without even a shred of shame. She’s especially happy to entertain multiple clients at a time (3 maximum).
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Edynn studies the list for a few moments. "I think it would be particularly fitting to spend some time with a former ropefist. I would enjoy spending time with Jasmine please." she says with a smile.
As her friends discussed what else they wanted with Wrennie when Edynn spoke and decided she wanted time with one of the Madame's employees Sia knew there would be time for things now rather than later. She blushed at something but exactly what was anyone's guess.
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Wrennie takes the list back from Edynn and smirks. "Right this way."
She leads the android out into the foyer and up a curved staircase to the balcony overlooking it, coming to a finely carved mahogany door with an image of a kneeling female silhouette carved upon it. "Jasmine?" The madame calls out, rapping twice on the door.
A few moments pass before its occupant answers--a brown-haired, olive-skinned young woman with hazel eyes and a toned, supple body opens the door. She's wearing what appears to be a soft blue silk negligee and thong, both of which are embroidered with silver trim and transparent to the point of leaving almost nothing to the imagination. "Yes, ma'am?"
"I would like you to entertain this one for me." Wrennie introduces Edynn with a wave of her hand. "She and her friends have done me a service--and she requested your expertise specifically."
Jasmine looks Edynn up and down with an analytical eye before nodding and meeting the android's eyes. She gives Edynn an inviting smile and beckons her inside. "Come in then, darling. And might I say--you've chosen wisely."
-----------------
Wrennie comes back into the office and addresses Sialea. "Follow me, would you kindly?"
Then she looks at the bunny. "Will there be anything else, or will you and Mr. Hopesheart be on your way?"
Knowing she wouldn't be going to the parts dealer right away Sialea took out some paper and a pen then wrote down the name fo the dealer and the part they needed and then handed it to Celen, "If you two want to go ahead and check into the piece we need this is the person and the part. We can meet back up at my place or at yours Celen."
When Wrennie came back in Sialea looked to her and rose as she said, "Alright Wrennie, lead the way." She glanced back at her friends and said, "I'll see you later." She moved then, her graceful stride slowing beside Wrennie's, and followed the Calistrian woman from the room, blushing again as she thought of what might come next.
”Have fun!” he happily tells Edynn as she’s led away.
——
”On it.” he tells Sialea.
——
”Have fun!” he repeats the same when Sialea is about to be led away before he is adessed. ”Oh no, thank you for everything you’ve done for us. Take care.” he says before following after the Aasimar.