"That ain't respect. It's an excuse to squeeze us for information. Don't give me that runaround little missy. You lie like a bleedin' elf." She takes the letter and scans over it. Then she reads it again and swears. "Quint! Send for Olive, I'm going to flay her ass raw!" Quint comes over with a suspicious gaze, then reads the paper himself. As he reads it his lip curls up.
Quint puts the scroll back down in disgust. "That two-faced whore." He goes behind the bar and pours out an amber liquid, then shoots it back strait. "F&~~ me, there's going to be blood!" He suddenly draws a dagger and stabs it into the counter. "Yer g*%*&#n right I'm sick of that piled-up infernal s@$%head having his run of the town!"
Althea nods with him. "Aye, we'll vouch for you with the River King. Only way you can talk to him, if somebody he knows vouches." Quint pours out another drink, sneering. "F$&* that. I warned them, I warned them. And they bring their business into my house!?" He shoots the drink, then throws down the glass and shatters it across the floor. "I'm gonna kill the bastard. I'm sick of playing house and waiting." He leaps the bar and walks up to Bjorkus, glaring up at him. "Green-ears, you got the stink of the sea 'bout you. Where's yer blood from?"
"I was at part of the crew of Raging Storm, Captain Bjorkus's ship", Ragnar answers honestly. "What about you? I recognize an old sea dog when I see one."
Ianna doesn't apologize for her manipulations, though she does give a prim smile at the unfavorable elven comparison. Everyone always talks about the gilded tongue of the elves, try coming from a culture that only moves forward through the absolute consensus of seven elderly dwarves where a reputation for being impolite means social exile.
After they read the missive, Ianna tucks it back into a pouch.
"Another question: do you know anyone who lives in this city cunning enough to fool the local cult of Norgorber into thinking we robbed the museum and to lure us here under false pretenses. Chibi is no assassin. He could barely assassinate a carrot cake. Another free pearl: from my research, Villichi has some impressive regenerative capacities. If you are able to put him down, dispose of him in a way that is a closed loop such as stuffing him into an adamantine barrel full of seawater so he perpetually drowns."
As Quint confronts Bjorkus, Althea continues talking with Ianna. "Retired and that man is still going to be the death of me." She shakes her head. "I don't have any connections to any cult of Norgorber, but I'll tell you I was right pissed at that priest last night. He's the one that broke half of this with that blade spell of his. Near as I can tell the only person I know clever enough to pull off something like that is Alziver, but he's been in the wind for a while now." She laughs at the carrot cake comment. "Well damn, aren't we all just being strung up for a run. Regeneration you say? Probably just some divine magic, I'd put my coin on an item." She looks at Ianna. "That's pretty dark coming from a priestess o' the righteous."
"I don't practice violence myself, but I also won't give bad advice, or let someone who could be an ally die from ignorance when I could have spoken up.
Criminals always seem to think the good means nice, and often stupid. In my mind being good, is about encouraging positive outcomes for the greatest number in the least harmful of ways. If I knew of a less harmful way to get rid of him, I would recommend it.
And not to put too fine of point on it but my goddess is a goddess of lust and desire as much as she is one of love and beauty. She embraces common merchants as much as she does princesses."
Ianna pauses for a moment "I'm glad that he worships Norgorber as the Gray Master and not Father Skinsaw. This situation is messy enough already. Thieves are a more understandable threat than insane murderers."
I had the same thought about Alziver. It was too convenient by half. Now let use see if I can prove it.
None of her answers to Althea were lies. They were all true, but like most things Ianna said about herself there was a greater complexity that she did not reveal.
"Aye, true enough. Look no further than paladins for evidence o' that. They'll give a poor man the shirt off their back, but they know how to bring the hammer down."
"There's more than one way to worship Norgorber. You can be anything from a mad dog to a drug runner. Unpredictable lot."
None of her answers to Althea were lies. They were all true, but like most things Ianna said about herself there was a greater complexity that she did not reveal.
"How should we handle the visit to the River King? What is the vouching process?"
"We'll take you. Best to vouch in person."
"Rotted earth! Something foul malingers where she lies. In the past few days, something terrible was there. The shadow of its evil still malingers."
Dalton was surprised with the severity of Toramin's response.
"Well, it seems like our friend was in that spot recently. Unfortunately, our associate now rests in that den of evil. I wish we could get a response!"
.
"Chibi! Chibi! Turn over if you can hear us."
Sadly, there was no way to track here whereabouts that Dalton could muster.
"We only have a minute or two left. I'm out of ideas with the scry."
There continues to be no change in the behavior of the scry image.
"Excellent. Would sometime tomorrow work for you?"
Althea looks at Quint and chuckles. "I think he looks intent on going now. I imagine you'll be bringing along your bruisers tomorrow, aye?"
"That was my intent. My brother frets. He thinks I get into too much trouble. I say Ragnar can keep me safe. I've never met anyone stronger. But part of leadership is knowing when to get out of the way and let people do their jobs. My brother's job is to kill the people who try to kill us; it's a duty he shares with Ragnar. As you saw last night, I prefer more peaceable solutions.
But if its today or not happening, then it will be today."
Althea tilts her head. "Well he's right about that at least." She sighs and looks over at Quint. "It's still pretty early in the morning, just come back late tonight, once the sun goes down. I'll have him calm and sober by then."
"Which bell? We will be here."
Ianna gets up and gestures to Bjorkus. "When you are ready, Ragnar."
Ianna shows the letter to Toramin and Dalton. She notes their lot bet and a need for a ring. She also mentions her renewed suspicions concerning Alziver. Finally, she speaks of their second encounter with the pirates.
Even after reading the letter three times, Toramin is not happy with it. He contacts Drosil immediately to fill him in on the intelligence that Bjorkus and Ianna brought to them -- especially the letter.
"Thoughts? What do you know about the River King? Does my sister's suspicions ring true?"
Ianna shows the letter to Toramin and Dalton. She notes their lot bet and a need for a ring. She also mentions her renewed suspicions concerning Alziver. Finally, she speaks of their second encounter with the pirates.
"Perhaps by the hand of our hooded friend from the tavern, hmm?" Dalton suspected that man was a lieutenant of sorts, perhaps reading in the scry while keeping watch over Rilka. "The unorthodox nature of concealing the message speaks to import and intent - valuable enough to go through odd channels and reagents while being malicious enough to conceal."
Dalton was a bit amused by the gambling story. He turned to Bjorkus with a smile. "I thought pirates had the winds of chance at their backs?" After a much-needed laugh, he asked about his coppers in the matter. "Did the victor say what he'd prefer adorning the ring?"
I'll make sure it is quality.
"You sure were busy today! I wish we had more success with Rilka; while she is alive - and healed, I should add - they are keeping her under watch. We could not wake her. Your brother did detect some extremely nefarious presence in that area recently though. Given his reaction, I imagine you could recognize the zone if you got near it?" he glanced over to Toramin, then back to the others. "This River King sounds dangerously well-connected, but not like he would carry that sort of bouquet of blasphemy."
"Oh! I almost forgot."
Ianna pulls out the sketch of the ring that father Thriun gave her. "He wants the seven-sided pip. I can help you craft it if you like, Dalton. I have some small skill with jewelry."
We need to speak. I think you would prefer it in private.
"I knew you were an old sea dog but you're not any old pirate. You're the Quint. What're you doin' in a city like Grastle Hollow? Before Villichi this place would've bored a (former?) soddin' pirate lord to death."
Toramin considers for a moment. "The stain was similar in scope to the curse on your father, Master Dalton."
~The Rainbow Barrel~
Quint stares at Bjorkus for a minute, then turns and walks to the back. He rummages through the back room for a moment and brings out a large green glass, curved and masterfully done, depicting a kraken and snake fighting while entangled around the glass. Bjorkus recognized the drink instantly as Sea Monster Blood, a very expensive and exceedingly rare drink favored by the richest pirates, and so strong it would knock a dwarf over. Quint pours out two glasses, then gestures Bjorkus over and slides one to him. "I know Bjorkus, that big crazy bastard. He's gotten me outta more than one bad situation. Here's to his health." He raises the glass with Bjorkus and takes a sip. He swirls the drink around and looks at Bjorkus. "How's he doin'?"
"Times change. Joints get stiff, mind gets tired. And you learn some things are more important to an old man than making war."
Dalton swiftly read the note, nodding. I can't imagine she wants the privacy to explore my ponderous curves...
"Your suggestions would be most welcome. Perhaps we can discuss the incline of the indentations after we are done here?"
Dalton was not inclined to jump to conclusions, but the news Toramin spoke was troubling. "I'd like to imagine the two are not the same though; jumping to conclusions was never a fancy of mine. However, I imagine strong presences such as that are a rarity on our plane."
*******
Later, he and Ianna had a minute alone. "I was thinking a silver base, cubic frame with a hole for the finger. The seventh pip should have a stone, but what kind?" Though he did happen to acquire an opal recently, the stone was hard to find elsewhere. Dalton would be displeased to part with it.
"No, I'm not suggesting it is caused by the same source. Not even our luck is that bad, but perhaps similar levels of power?"
"I think a ruby would be the gem that has the most iconographic meaning. This could serve as a secondary holy symbol."
Ianna pauses for a moment before letting out a little sigh.
"Dalton, I wanted to talk to you about the spell you used last night on the white-haired gnome. I have been thinking a lot about it since last night. Thinking about the whys.
You aren't a sorcerer; you are a wizard. The magic you cast is magic you choose; magic you put effort into mastering. You are a transmuter not a conjurer, so it is not as if it was especially powerful in your hands. You have other spells that can render a target completely helpless over time, so it is not as if it did something unique that your other spells could not reproduce.
Please help me understand why you chose to use evil magic."
Dalton shrugged. "Anything in that realm of potency and perfidiousness is something I'd like to avoid if I could."
His attention returned to Ianna. "When would you find it best to take up this River King lead?"
Even after reading the letter three times, Toramin is not happy with it. He contacts Drosil immediately to fill him in on the intelligence that Bjorkus and Ianna brought to them -- especially the letter.
"Thoughts? What do you know about the River King? Does my sister's suspicions ring true?"
"I see you're making progress. Norgorber's followers are a fickle lot. Some are adamant, some shifting. I'd see if the cultist could be talked to."
"I know of the River King, haven't met him. Heff says he's the kind of man he could go in circles with all day. Yix likes him, says he does good business. I'd treat him like a rickety bridge; one wrong step and you'll plunge, but tread carefully and you might get somewhere you couldn't have gotten before."
Ragnar takes the offered glass, swirls its contents with a pump of his wrist, and then takes a sip himself.
"How long have you been out of the game? You're thinkin' of Bjorkus, 'The Bull the Mounts the Sea'. He's is a pirate lord now. I imagine he's got your disappearance to thank for his seat on the Council. I'm sure he's got a few dozen bastards floating around out there but I was on his boy's ship, one called Bjorkus the Lesser."
After taking another sip, Ragnar reflects on Quint's answer. "Is Althea one of those important things? You wouldn't be the first pirate to leave the sea behind to settle down with his old lady."
"Ianna thinks that the letter is circumstantial evidence that Alziver as our third party manipulating both us and Calios' people. I certainly do not like that they knew we would be there when the only reason we decided to go to that bar was because of information you extracted from the bomber. Makes me worried that someone looking like us would have showed up regardless."
~The Rainbow Barrel~
"Ah hell, fifteen years? Give or take." He grins. "Yeah, I heard about that tough old bull getting my seat. Just hope he's got some brains backing him behind all that brawn. Never a better man ta have at yer back when things get hot, but damned if he wasn't he s+%$ at planning." He swirls the cup around and takes another drink. "Bjorkus the Lesser, can't say I've heard o' him. Bjorkus never did talk 'bout his whelps much. Don't seem ta remember half o' 'em anyways." He looks over at Althea. "Well, partly. Her knees are giving out, but she'da stayed with me till we were both bones on a dock. She's half the reason I'm alive right now, all the crazy s&++ I got into in me youth." He lapses into silence for a moment, then takes a large swig of the drink and coughs. "Damn, hadn't had this in years. Forgot how strong it was. Other reasons I left, green-ears. Personal reasons."
"Doesn't sound like what we know of Alziver. It's possible though. Maybe the bomber gave us that info, knowing it was a trap. He was...a hard man to break."
"Whatever they are I can see they didn't take all the fight out of you", Ragnar ribs before taking another sip. "Have you been here, in Grastle Hollow, that whole time? You've got to have made a few friends here in that time."
Glancing at the bar, he's reminded of the green-skinned barmaid that had been planted there to potentially kill him.
"What are you and Althea gunna to do with the girl? You know if you hurt her Villichi's gunna know you learned he's usin' this place to stage his operations."
There must be limits to their ability to control and break minds. That is strangely comforting. This might be the first limit we have seen to their power.
"Whomever it is, this letter serves as proof that there is a third party involved. Do you have any ideas on who could be playing both us and Calios? Were the operatives who came as back up able to track down that skull faced gnome?"
~The Rainbow Barrel~
"No, not always here. Been around, here and there. Traveled around fer a while. Tried starting up a business a few times, never stuck 'till this one. Aye, I've kept in touch with a few old ones too." He swirls his drink and scowls. "I'm gonna whup her ass, I'll tell you that. But she's a good lass, I'll probably give her a second chance."
"Alziver does come to mind. The River King isn't the kind to get so heavily involved. The skull-faced gnome was found dead in an alley. A few alleys. It looks like some creature ripped his limbs off and caved his head in. Nothing left on the body."
"Curious. How quickly did they find him? Your operatives might not have been the only people watching the bar. As for the River King he is involved enough to give the Norgorber cultists new directives. This whole thing reeks. Speaking of which there was an overwhelming lingering presence of evil where Master Dalton scried Rilka."
"Three hours. Body was still warm." There's a brief pause. "If she was captured by Calios, that sounds like the kind of presence he would have. Stronger than before though."
"If Gabriel was correct -- gods keep his soul -- it is much more powerful than before. We have gotten stronger over the last year, but if that aura is his than he got stronger at a much faster rate."
"I don't suppose you know any gnomes in Grastle Hollow with an interest in clockwork and ships. Last I spoke with him, Bjorkus (his boy) had an idea for a pirate ship that sails in the water and the sky. Have you heard of the gnomes ever buildin' something like that? A beauty like that, and the crew to man her, would make a pirate captain famous real fast."
Mention of second chances sets Ragnar nodding in agreement. "Just make sure you find out what Villichi's got on her. That bastard's got a way of gettin' to people. If you don't remove his leverage he'll turn her again."
~The Rainbow Barrel~
"I don't keep up with the local merchants. Never had much o' the touch for this new tech. Something good to ask Tahk though. If there's a man you need to know, he knows the man."
"Aye, I'll learn what he's got on her. That evil son of a whore has a way of twisting people with fear; good, tough people. If I didn't know just how much of a sick f*@# that devil is I wouldn't be giving her a second chance in the first place."
"Thanks for the drink", Ragnar offers as he polishes off his glass. "But the girl and I have work to do. We'll be back later for that meeting with the River King. Stay outta trouble until then", he finishes with a smirk.
"Aye, tonight. Keep a sharp eye on the horizon too, savvy?"
The party lies low for the day, exchanging notes and theories in the safety of the Time Turner Inn. And then as the sun begins to go down, they pack their things and head back to the Rainbow Barrel.
At night the city seems much more hostile. Instead of friendly faces smiling, there are dark whispers and flickering shadows that seem to dance just on the edge of the senses. The party finds themselves walking a little faster than normal until they reach the old tavern, seeing the closed sign still out on the door.
Once the party knocks there's a ten second silence, then the half-dozen latched and bolts start being undone. The door opens to show Althea standing there, in more travel-worn clothing than she had on this morning. She nods at the party, then looks around the street before ushering them in and closing the door behind them.
Inside the tavern has had the majority of it cleaned up, but the furniture is sparse. The huge dog lays in front of the fireplace once more, and it growls softly as the party enters, but Althea coos a soothing word and scratches his ears. "There there, they're friends." She shouts to the back. "Quint! Quit putting your makeup on, it's time ta go!" Quint steps out of the back, hair falling loose and now wearing a set of studded leather armor. He hauls out a big wooden bin, tossing it on the floor. "Tahk won't meet with steel. Put it here, we'll lock it up." Quint drops a blunderbuss, a pistol, a climbing axe, and a dagger into the bin. Althea drops a dagger.
Ianna doesn't move because she never carries a weapon.
"Then I assume we aren't beating sense into him? What precautions have you taken to prevent your and our weapons from being stolen while we are gone."