"Sendi's right", Crady whispers loudly, "get to some cover!"
Pakuzzo glares in Sendi and Crady's directions, but has to admit they were right.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but please follow us to more secure location," he whispers to the elf girl. "You have the word of the Silver Ravens that no harm will come to you. You may leave us when you wish, but we need to get out of sight for right now."
He gives a silent hand signal to the giant raven to follow after them from above before slipping back into the shadows.
"Please, forgive me."
"You're forgiven, nestling." Philacris snaps in response. His followup comments only grind her nerves further. While she keeps herself from launching into another wave of complaints, under her breath she mutters "Calistria help me, but these children are insufferable on top of being reckless madmen."
She turns to peer at Sendi after her suggestion and quietly says "Ah, one of you has some sense at least. Please, lead the way." She pulls her hood back up and after a few moments of mental preparation, she resumes the stance and movements of an old woman. She wobbles from foot to foot unsteadily through the alleyway. Pakuzzo's whispered comment about the Silver Ravens leaves her quiet for a while, but as they move she responds with her own whisper.
"Silver Ravens? Don't tell me you named it after yourself. I mean, you've proven yourself to be dim enough already."
Titus follows Pakuzzo and the others and watches the exchange. He can't help but think that they're about to get in a bit over their heads, but then again, they did greatly outnumber Nox if it came to blows.
The true nature of the situation, when it became apparent, had Titus beyond baffled. This little girl....how...Nox? He moves a bit closer to get a better look, perhaps looking for some sort of trick...err, another one, that is.
Now, girl...that was incredibly dangerous what you did. The guards could have seen through the ruse at any time.
Phila looks over her shoulder at the newcomer, Titus. "You're with them too?" She sniffs "Dangerous? Oh please, those guards are so trapped in their expectations that a child could have tricked them. They had no chance."
Sendi looked at the elf incredulously. "My order thought the same. We believed that the guards would be too dim witted to find Irori's faithful. The fact that I am here and my brethren are not is proof that Thrune did not rise to power by being stupid. And, as I understand it, my companions recently lost one of their own as well, along with his entire family. Proof that they are ruthless as well."
She sobers up at Sendi's comment, responding with "I don't mean to say all of Thrune's forces are stupid. But the majority of them are like a massive blunt instrument. Sure they may produce some petty evils alone, but they lack in every other respect. They are utterly reliant on guidance and direction. Something that is easy enough to supply if you wear the right face."
"That said, you have my sympathy for your brethren, girl. I've seen my share of good people found and crushed by Thrune's machine. Too many good people."
Titus nods, both in acknowledgement and appreciation. As you say, I guess...either way, well done. And yes, I am with them now - a recent development and quite the boon that I found them.
"And we appreciate it, Titus," Pakuzzo assures him. "The revolution needs as many able bodies as it can get."
Regarding Philacris, he seems to be working up to something, but also seems reluctant to voice it.
"Girl. Be level with me. Do you specialize only in illusions, or can you do other things as well?"
Phila peers up at Pakuzzo through her cowl, raising an eyebrow "The 'revolution' huh? Well, lets see it. Because all I've seen so far is some paranoid children with weapons in their hands."
She sniffs at his follow-up question, ticked off by the continued use of 'girl' despite her years.
'All my care gone to waste. I suppose I should have stuck to my original plan, gone looking for that tiefling. Met this lot on my own terms. Now I have some fledgling calling me girl like he has more than a dozen years to call his own.'
She responds with a dismissive "I've been around the block long enough to pick up a few things. But even if all I had were illusions... lets say that this little gang could use the subtlety."
”How old are you anyways, and how do we know if this is an illusion too?”
"Still too damn young, if her attitude is anything to go by," Pakuzzo grumbled bitterly under his breath. Elves sometimes had a reputation for being haughty, but this girl took the cake.
He wasn't really up to speed on elf physical development, but he knew that age didn't always equal maturity. As far as he was concerned, if she was going to act like a brat, he'd treat her like a brat. That fact that she could be his grandmother's age didn't mean squat if every sentence out of her mouth was going to be an insult.
"Also, do you have a real name, or are we supposed to guess that as well?"
Titus inclined his head at Pakuzzo, somewhat surprised that the very capable Tengu even noticed his contribution, meager as it had been. He seethes a bit at the gall of this young...girl...young woman? He was quite confused, given her penchant for illusions.
Now, miss...how do you think a revolution should start? Concerned citizens with weapons, yes...but beyond that, a group who has well being of the people in this city as their core belief - now, that I do call the beginning of a revolution.
Now, I know we've a way to go, but we all start from somewhere. So...why don't you stop belittling our cause and tell us how you can help it?
Titus seemed taken aback by his own words, and he sighs deeply, seemingly ashamed at how he'd acted. She's just a girl...that was too much, Titus.
Phila gets ready to snap back at the continued lack of respect these whippersnappers are giving her when Titus chimes in with his own questions. The change in tone and slightly more even-handed choice of words is enough to get her to pause.
"Pah, should I be surprised that the kinds of kids who'd fight against Thrune are the kind that won't listen to reason? Probably not. They're hardly older than Sundry's little girls, and I've never once had luck telling those two tykes off while looking like this." She peers down at her body with a sigh. "Damn it all to hell but I'm not going to be able to take Thrune down alone. And even if these four are crazy, at least they have their weapons pointed in the right direction. Most of the time. If I have to humor them... well, I guess I have to."
Philacris releases a breath, bringing her emotions back into check. She bobs her head at Titus, responding with a tightly controlled "I'm sorry, we've gotten off on the wrong foot here and you don't deserve it, nor does it do me much good. After all, I'd been hoping to work together with those souls who would want to oppose that bastard Barzillai."
"The name is Philacris. Former proprietor of Phila's Philters up near Lady Docur's in Villegre. While I thought it was common courtesy not to ask women their age, what I'll say is that I was kicking around while your mothers were still just a twinkle in your grandfathers eyes. Well, perhaps other than you." She points a gloved finger in Titus' direction. "As to your question miss..." She turns to face Sendi "I promise you this is the LAST form I would weave an illusion to imitate. Though you are welcome to believe what you will, as unless you're practiced in arcane arts you have few ways to confirm the truth of my words."
"As for how I can help your cause... Well, I see clearly you have the spirit to fight, perhaps suicidally, against the agents of Thrune. But bloodshed alone is a poor way to topple a regime. Not that it doesn't serve a role, but..." she shrugs, letting her results at the bridge speak for themselves.
"Now, I've been spilling my heart here for what seem from my perspective to be a group of bloodthirsty strangers. How about you tell me about yourselves and your 'Silver Ravens' so that I know what I'm dealing with?"
Metronicus clearly sees how this could get out of hand. The urban druid steps forward.
Titus dips his head to Philacris in greeting. Titus Enfield, a devotee of Milani and concerned citizen. There is definitely wisdom in that...I've never lacked in spirit, but at times have been far too brash to accomplish the end goal I'd been set upon.
He glances aside at the others. As for the Silver Ravens...well, I fear I've just stumbled onto them myself. I'm sure we can discuss at length and detail plans that aren't tempered by hot heads; Crady, if you'd guide us - could we adjourn to the coffeehouse so that we're not loitering about the streets and alleyways?
Phila brightens as she responds in kind to Crady. "તમારા પ્રકારની વાતો માટે આપનો ખૂબ આભાર, મિસ્ટર. મને જોવાથી ખુબ ખુશી છે કે આ પ્રતિકાર વ્યક્તિ છે જે શહેરને સારી રીતે જાણે છે."
And when Titus replies she grins "If Milani has a stake in all this, Kintargo might just stand a chance. Its nice to meet you."
She peers out of her hood at the last two. The tengu seems occupied with something very serious, so she resolves to try to resolve her differences with him later. Instead, she looks to the rather odd human woman. "How about you?" 'Did I see claws earlier?'
Sendi nodded politely, as she removed one of her gloves. "Yes, you did. You have keen eyes. I am but a monk of Irori. What I used to believe was a curse, I now see as a blessing. None of us are born as we choose, but through diligence and faith we might achieve perfection." With that, she put the glove back on. "As I do not have your talents, I fear that I must wear these lest I draw too much attention."
"Well, this is going much better. Maybe their little resistance won't fall apart at the first sign of trouble. Well. Maybe."
Philacris draws back her sleeves enough to expose her own gloved hands "Though I don't have to deal with anything like your blessing, we all have our own reasons to keep certain... facts about ourselves, to ourselves." She pulls them back into her sleeves. "Either way, a good philosophy you have there. Very nice to make your acquaintance."
Sendi gave a polite, yet to warm, smile back. ”And I feel fortunate to make yours. Fate has smiled upon us all, I am certain. Let us make the most of it.”
Leaving the dark alley, you make you way back to the bridge. The guard with damp pants is still meticulously cleaning the rice, one grain at a time, while his companion jeers at him. Both are so concerned with their task at hand, they fail to notice the single remaining guard on this side frantically collecting the tolls from the growing line.
Several citizens seem to be bypassing the solo man entirely and strolling across the bridge. "Would ya hurry up?! I'm getting overrun here!" he cries out.
Winding your way through the city streets you find yourselves before the coffeehouse in no time. You head inside, passing the mandated mural of the high queen. The lunch rush just beginning, you find most of the tables inside full of customers. The friendly halfling proprietor eagerly hopping from table to table.
"And what about the sweet bread? To your liking I presume?"
"Oh no, I must insist. The fish brought in this morning has been tainted. It's no good...however, the bread came out perfect today! Just a smidgen of the coffeecake and you'll be in heaven."
Glancing towards the door, she smiles. "Oh! My special friends!" she exclaims, rushing over to Crady and Pakuzzo. Grabbing the sage's and tengu by the hand, she pulls you toward the back room. Glancing towards Sendi, Titus, and Philacris she smiles sweetly. "Sit wherever you wish dearies. I'll be with you in but a moment."
The woman seems eager to pull Crady and Pakuzzo away from the crowd...as if she's afraid of what others may overhear.
”Why thank you, that is so kind.” Sendi flashed her a friendly smile. ”My name is Sendi, what is yours?”
As she said this, she thought She doesn’t trust us. I’ll have to sit close enough to hear whatever it is she has to say.
Philacris wobbles in place near Sendi and Titus, hood and robe covering her completely, old woman routine at full steam. She tugs on Titus' sleeve and whispers out (loud enough for anyone nearby to overhear), "Oh, young man, I very much hope we can rest here a while. My knee has been acting terribly peculiar this morning." She reaches down and rubs at her knee, using the movement to cover her peering out at the store.
"I thought we were going to their hideout. They called it the coffeehouse, but I thought that was a pseudonym. They don't REALLY just meet at a coffeehouse? How have they not been captured yet?"
Titus sees the guard being somewhat overwhelmed. Normally, his inclination would be to hand over the copper and avoid notice. But, remembering Pakuzzo's example from before, Titus instead motions the group past, making a particular point of ignoring the guard as he does.
Becoming a bit familiar with Philacris's particular skills, Titus has to stop himself from his initial response...truth had been one of his most coveted tenets in his early life, but the situation was drawing him more out of his comfort zone with every step. He stops and makes a show of helping Philacris, at the same time covering her from view with his bulk.
Crady, used to being pulled around by some city guards, was not accustomed to being pulled away. The urban druid looks at his new companions as he and Pakuzzo were pulled away with a confused expression on his face. Once both human and tengu were tuck away in a quiet corner, Crady whispers, "What's going on?"
The woman stops in the storeroom, shutting the door behind you. "Ok, I wasn't sure if you wanted that new woman...Sendi I believe? Anyway, wasn't sure if you'd want her in on this yet. Seems right after you guys left, a wall mysteriously collapsed downstairs. Seems like it was intentional according to Rexus."
As you find a seat, the pleasant atmosphere soothing. The exterior door opens again and two dottari guards step in. Looking over the crowd, they don't appear to be here for lunch.
Titus sighs lightly with his head down. Attempting to not look suspicious, he moves himself over slightly to shield Sendi and Philacris from view as much as he can. Quite aware of his vulnerable position with back to the rest of the room, he nonetheless looks about for one of the waitstaff, hoping to at least ask about the special so as not to look like they were there for anything aside from food.
Quietly Phila mutters "I thought this was a hideout? You invite dottari to your hideout often?" She glances once at the guards and then turns her attention to her new acquaintances instead. "That and I can't help but notice we got the table furthest from everyone else. Good way to stand out."
She keeps an eye on Titus and Sendi to see what their reactions are to this situation.
"I suppose this is a good a time as any to see if these would-be rebels are any good."
Crady kneels before the halfling woman.
"Please! Show me!"
The urban druid follows the innkeeper downstairs.
Sendi drummed her claws on the table as she thought. ”We three are here because we are all new here. I would not be surprised if they are discussing how much to trust us. And as for these dottari, do not be concerned. If they knew who we are, there would be more than them. However...” She looked at Phila with grave concern. ”...how much sugar are in these cakes? If this is what we are expected to eat this regurally...”
"Let me check the dining room first, then we'll head down. Rexus is already down there, pouring over his papers as always..."
Slipping out of the room, she spots the guards. Before the halfling can say boo, one calls out across the room.
"You the proprietor? We need to talk to you!" shouts the one with the green bow in her hair.
The other one silently follows the speaker at a distance. His hand on his mace, he watches the room carefully. Silence falls over the crowd as they all watch the duo intently.
Crossing behind the bar, she smiles sweetly at the guards. "That I am. Ms Laria Longroad. You may call me Ms. Longroad. Now, what is the meaning of this intrusion? I have the mandated mural of the Queen posted, I'm not over booked with customers, and I've paid my taxes. I even enforce the curfew with my clientele."
The halfling appears nervous.
She appears to be restraining extremely hostile desires
"That's all well and good Laria." replies the female guard. "We have it on good authority that uh..." Pausing, she lets out a sharp, ear-piercing whistle and tugs a piece of parchment from her pocket. "'Suspicious activity and unsavory
practices' have been occurring at this establishment." she reads.
A third guard suddenly appears in the doorway, mace out. Blocking the entrance, the sentry stands silent.
"Now, what have you to say for these accusations, eh? Perhaps we should do a thorough search of your facility and those within, yeah?"
The halfling's face begins to twitch spasmodically, her smile nearly completely gone. "If you would allow my guests to pleasure of finishing their meal, I suppose we could handle your request...."
Cutting her off, the guard sneers. "What, wantin to sneak someone out? I THINK NOT!"
So, the halfling really on our side. We have to do something...
She whispered ”Philacris. I’ll get their attention. Be ready with your magic.”
Standing up, she smoothed her clothes, looked around, and then walked up to the guard in charge. With steely eyes she said...
”I have had *enough* of this! This is the third time this week I have paid for a meal and lost it because of a shake down! What happened to law and order?! First the Bell over on third gets cleared out until the owner pays The Red Jills. Then those watchmen came and put mint in everyone’s drinks over at the Tack n’ Barrell, and made *all* of us pay a fine, and now this? The quietest coffee shop in the city?! Is there nowhere I can go after work? Are there any of you guards left who are actually going to protect us? I LOST TWENTY GOLD already because of you guards! What is it going to be now? Are you going to take down that mural and charge us for that? Tell us the sun isn’t shining and it’s past curfew? What is *your* name?! My uncle is a Hellknight! By all the powers if you are here to shake me down I will get the Rack involved!”
Crady takes this opportunity to grab the tengu and sneak downstairs.
Philacris freezes in place when Sendi says to 'be ready with your magic'.
"What does that girl think, that I'm just going to clap my hands and solve this? If they're so close like this, its far better to let them find something and be on their way than to resist."
Before she can think too much more about it, Sendi is already on her feet and acting outraged. Phila takes advantage of the distraction to ease herself out of her chair with some feigned difficulty. She puts a hand on Titus' and whispers "I might've had a chance to become friends with their leader, but not now that your friend has antagonized them. Think you can calm them down?"
Titus watches the quickly escalating interaction with growing concern.
The halfling's unsteady nerves give him more than a little concern, and the appearance of a third guard only further illustrates their already precarious position.
He looks to Philacris with a slight grimace and whispers back. I fear that any attempt to diffuse this now could take away from Sendi's false threats. I'll try...
Then Titus stands and takes a few steps forward, his hands out wide and empty. Now, I assure you, no one is attempting to sneak out or any such thing. I'm sure that the other patrons, like myself, just wish to enjoy a good coffee and perhaps a pastry in peace. Please, I'm sure you have much to do, so tell me how we can help to answer your questions. This is a fine establishment that has exemplified everything one can do to be in accordance with the law.
Eyeing Sendi suspiciously, she looks back to her companions. "Well...I suppose if one of the Rack dines here, it should be ok... Looking up to see Crady exit the back room, she barks. [b}"But know this! You let one hair get out of place and we'll be back! You best keep your nose clean 'Laria' 'cause we'll be watching you."[/b]
Without another word, she storms out the doors. Her companions follow her wordlessly, though they keep glancing back as they go.
Laria snarls "Thrune needs to get his dogs on a leash!" and with the slightest of breaths, she back to her cheerful nature. "Everyone gets a round of drinks on the house. And....what can I get you three newcomers?" she asks, scurrying towards Titus and Philacris.
Sure enough, one of the stone walls has collapsed into the storage room. As you slip through the secret entrance, you spot Rexus frantically directing some of the lower recruits in cleaning up the facility and reinforcing the wall.
"It just makes no sense..." grumbles the man. Suddenly an eerie lullaby begins to ring out from seemingly nowhere, echoing across the walls. "And there's that blasted music again!"
Titus pauses, one hand in the air with an upraised finger. He had been about to continue on with what he thought was another good point, but then realized that Sendi's ruse had just completely solved this little confrontation. With a shrug and a slight grumble about the inevitability of a web of lies getting a tear, he steps back and thuds back down into his seat.
Looking up at Laria, he shrugs again. Coffee, black...and I think I talked myself into that pastry - less sticky, if you please.
Philacris golf claps for Sendi's performance, and as the changeling returns she whispers in her old woman voice "Very nicely done, girl! With just your word and attitude to sell it, I wasn't sure if they were buying. But your commitment to the ruse pulled you through. Very good!"
To Laria, Phila feigns a cough, and says "A pot of Jalmeray Black, if you will." She grabs a hold of the woman's sleeve for just a moment, whispering "Would you mind letting our friends know that we're up here waiting for them?"
"We know that tune" Pakuzzo says, jabbing Crady in the arm. "We heard that same music in the livery!"
"Rexus, tell your people to keep a lookout for anything strange."
He turns back to the sage.
"Crady, can you do any divination mojo, see if you can perceive anything past where the wall has collapsed? I'll take a gander as well."
When Pakuzzo's vision changes to see through the darkness, so does Vinz's.
"Certainly deary." replies the halfling, eyeing Philacris with interest. "I'm assuming you refer to my friends? The ones you came in with?"
Thinking a moment, she offers a hand. "Laria Longroad, welcome. I'll be right back with your drinks and a 'less sticky' pastry."
"Oh! Thank goodness you guys are here! Sorry, I didn't here you come in....Uh, pardon the mess. Not quite sure what happened. One moment, the wall was fine and the next, well....you see. And the damned music keeps playing off and on!"
"If you all spot someone playing a lute, give them a quick slap for me and let me know right away!" he orders the workers.
Turning back to Crady, he asks "So, how have you guys been doing?"
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The urban druid's eyes begin to glaze over, only barely listening to those around him. Crady began to treat the wall as a wound in an animal.
"We have some new members to the cause upstairs..I nearly fell of a building, but it wasn't the building's fault, though. No no no no."
Crady gets down on his knees and feels the damage of the fallen wall.
"Shh. It's okay. It will be alright. We'll take care of you. Yes we will. And stop the mean man who did this to you. It's okay. Shh. Don't cry."
Titus nods in greeting and thanks, and smiles at Laria, thinking now that the halfling is not so bad after all. Indeed, thank you miss Longroad. Once she departs, Titus leans in slightly to Philacris and Sendi. So, Sendi, you're not...with Pakuzzo and Crady either? I'd thought when I'd stumbled upon the three of you on that rooftop, you were together.
He clumsily stumbles about directly asking "are you in the Silver Ravens too?"
Sendi smiled at Philacris. "Thank you. Maybe if I didn't hear the call of Irori, I would have gone into acting." Then, she turned to Titus. With a slight shake of her head she said "I'm as with them as you are. This was my first time out with the group. Unfortunately, I don't know all that much. I heard about them because they solved the tiefling murders. They are something of heroes in that part of town. I...think it would be best for one of them to fill you in on all that they do. I'd hate to give bad information."
"Your friends?" Philacris pauses for a moment to process the implications. "Yes, I suppose we came in with your friends." After another moment of hesitation, she pulls back her hood and drops the old woman voice so abruptly that its hard to believe she was anything different just a few moments ago.
She extends her hand to shake Laria's "Philacris Silk, pleasure to meet you Miss Longroad. I think we'll be talking to you and your friends again after drinks." Phila gives the woman a small, amused smile.
As soon as Laria leaves, she turns to the other two. "You two seemed the more even-headed of the group, so I thought you'd been here the longest. But its actually the bird and the uh, druid?"
”Yes...from what I gathered, there was a nobleman who joined the cause. He went back to his family and never returned. Then there was that...entertainer? I think? He and his entire family were killed. Oh, and they had a four armed tiefling, who used to be in the army. Apparently nobody has seen her for some time. So I guess they are what’s left of the original band.”
Philacris shakes her head "Unexplained absences, murders... it sure sounds like their work. Friends going missing." She scowls at the thought.
These children dying for their cause. And yet, what do they have to show for it? Precious little. Fools.
But for these four, their foolishness isn't terminal, yet.
Pakuzzo cocks his eyebrow at the Crady's strange behavior toward the building, but whatever he usually does seems to work, so he guessed the sage knew what he was doing.
"They're good people (well, two are...one is competent, at least...)," he answers Rexus. "Speaking of which, I'm going to go grab them from upstairs. They should hear this, too."
*********
Once Pakuzzo makes it up the stairs, he spots the trio sitting at their table. He lowers his voice so as not to attract undo attention from the coffee shop's other patrons.
"Psst!" he hisses, gesturing for their attention. "You all need to get down here with Crady and me and check this out. It's pretty strange!"
Titus turns with a start from Sendi's accounting of the last few days. A bit surprised to see Pakuzzo's urgency, he gets to his feet and rushes over. Though unsure of what he may find, Titus knows he's fully invested in the situation, and he plans to see it through.