"Well, this is the start of the material that I was hoping we'd be able to locate here. We should try and get into that coffer. Surely if it is secured so well, there must be something of value within." Voreni removes his tools again and makes some space to work on top of one of the crates.
The lock looks very well-made, and the crate has protected it from the ravages of time, which is more than you can say for most of the other stuff in this awful place. Cracking this lock will require considerable effort.
"We may need to take this somewhere more safe where I can take my time. This lock is rather complex and crafted with excellence. It may even require acquiring more specialized tools."
"If nobody objects, I'd like to take the bow," says Wilhelm eyeing the object. As it stands now, his only weapon is his spear, leaving him at a potential disadvantage at long ranges... and altitudes.
"It appears we may have found what we sought, though I'm quite at a loss as to what it all means. I'm hoping more -- explicit -- answers will behind that lock. We've gone to a lot of trouble to obtain information, cryptic hints would be unacceptable."
"At least we found signs that not everything of the Ravens was ransacked. We can use their old weapons--and whatever's in that chest, for a start. As weapons were laid out, I would guess that the box contains something informative." Corian muses.
"I need to find a place to wash up, and perhaps burn these robes," he continues.
Ignati drapes the cloak over his shoulders with a flourish and smiles at the group.
"This would be quite nice for going unnoticed among the city, I could certainly use it, famous face that I have! If no one else has a claim on it, of course." Still wearing the cloak he lifts one of the ravens and holds it in the light then looks at the six other people in the room with him. "Six ravens. Would there were seven I'd say we could each have one. To symbolize the founding members of the newest iteration, alas I feel it would leave us one short."
Placing the raven back with the rest he shrugs off the cloak and drapes it on his forearm, then looks about the room making sure they missed nothing else.
"We could return the way we came, unless there are any more rooms we need to inspect. Perhaps there are beasts made of pus and blood who wish to grapple with us next. Maybe the manure thrown at our dear Barzillai has mutated and awaits us around the next corner?"
"Right, if everything is settled, we should go, but to where? Also, this place in filthy, but it is a secret and secured place... I think it could come to be useful if we manage to clean it in some way."
"I have nowhere truly safe from prying eyes and so would be willing to put in some time cleaning things thoroughly. The space available would be useful in preparing alchemical materials, we could set up a workbench somewhere. We'll need to completely drain and purify that pool and seal up the holes that allowed all that vermin to infiltrate."
Voreni begins to mentally assemble a list in his head of basic cleaning and maintenance tools that would be needed to get the place back into shape.
"I've been trying to learn a cleaning cantrip, up until now mostly for my banner, but haven't made any progress so far," Wilhelm admits. "As disgusting as this place is, it's certainly safer than mine, I'm sure. I've never exactly been a low profile person, and there were survivors on both sides of the protest, for good or ill."
"Rexus, do you have any suggestions? You're as well connected as anyone here, with the possible exception of Mister Vashnarstill."
"I'm fine just staying here for now. I've smelled worse."
Rexus has been busily examining the various goods that you found in the first crate. Looking up from his examination of one of the silver raven figurines, he takes a moment to stroke his beard and think for a moment, then speaks.
"I know of a place where we can head to plan our next move. My mother had a friend and contact in the Villegre district. The Long Roads Coffee House. It is a Halfling establishment, so we'll not likely encounter any Thrune sympathizers there, and the owner, Laria Longroad, has been a friend of my mother for longer than I've been alive. It was she who helped me after the fires took my home and family."
Rexus stands and dusts off his trousers, setting the figurine down again.
"These figures are powerfully enchanted. When commanded, they become animate and can be used to pass messages to one another. I believe the Silver Ravens must have used them to coordinate their operations. That cloak, as well, bears protective magics.
"Oh, those ravens are intriguing. The Long Roads Coffee House sounds good. I'd be incredibly surprised if we aren't able to find a halfling who can pick the lock."
Ignati drapes the cloak over his shoulders once again and nods approvingly at Rexus.
"Lead the way old friend. Anything to be rid of this place. Wouldn't mind a fine coffee either to be honest.
"It's a far better prospect than staying the night here where the putridity is sentient and might try to drown us in our sleep."
Given that the largest item you discovered during your exploration is a small coffer, leaving the lower level of the Livery with your hard-won treasure is a relatively simple affair. As you exit the Livery entirely, Rexus gives the dilapidated building one last, distasteful look before hurrying down the street with the rest of you.
Your walk through the quiet, darkened streets of Kintargo is uneventful. The streets are still empty, almost preternaturally so, as if the violence you witnessed at the park had terrified the rest of the city into frightened silence.
The Long Roads Cafe is half-filled with people quietly drinking their coffee and pouring over notes. The moment you all set foot into the establishment a female Halfling with short blonde hair and generous curves rushes forward to embrace Rexus, then Morrigan.
"Welcome back! It's been so long since I've seen you all. Here, have a cuppa on me! she says, quickly pressing mugs of fresh coffee into your hands (and a fresh roll for Bacon, of course). Before anyone can react, she's pushing you all towards the back room with a broad smile.
"Come on then, into my office so we can catch up on old times. I can't wait to hear what you've all been up to!"
Ignati receives the 'cuppa' with a smile and he bows slightly with a flourish. Then continues with her ruse with a chuckle. Looking her over with an investigative eye as they continue into the back.
"Oh you know me. Always getting into trouble!"
Ignati realizes that the Halfling is creating a ruse to avoid any suspicion of you by the other customers at the cafe, and is leading you to place where you can speak privately.
"I've been away from the brew too long," says Corian with a grin. "Sorry about the robes--business, you know."
Wilhelm, making his campaign platform for densest man alive, frowns a little, giving this exuberant Halfling woman a look of total confusion. Not one to be the sort to rock the boat, however, and given his allies' comfortableness, he just sort of rolls with it and follows their lead. After all, it's fairly clear that this lady isn't Barzillai Thrune... or is she?!
Coffee House Map
Once you are all safely inside her office (B2), Laria takes a seat and gestures for each of you to do the same. Rexus begins by introducing each of you to Laria:
"This is Ignati Vashnarstill..."
"Yes, I know. What I really want to know is how Vashnarstill's black sheep got caught up in this mess, but I imagine I'll find out soon enough. Please, continue."
"Corian Vinithus, a priest of...well, that may be a bit complicated...perhaps he should explain." says Rexus, trailing off while averting his eyes from Corian's Asmodean robes.
"Wilhelm Alcontara and Valleria Albus, both late of the city guard. They saved many lives at the riots today, my own among them."
"Morrigan Winters, and...'Bacon', is it? A fine young wizard and talented grappler" Rexus half-chuckles, half-shudders at the memory of Morrigan wrestling the Lemure.
Laria raises an eyebrow and smiles at Morrigan impishly.
"And finally, Voreni...ah, I don't believe I got your last name sir. My apologies. I believe he is a local private detective, and a fine hand with a rapier as well. "
With the introductions completed, Laria begins to speak.
"I see you've brought Rexus back to me in one piece, and from the smile on his face I'll wager you found something good. Please, tell me everything. Formal introductions aside, I always find that a person is best described in their own words. What brought you into this foolish, dangerous enterprise, and what did you find down there in the Fair Fortune Livery?
"Are we sure this is a safe location to discuss the, uh, 'dangerous enterprise' we are engaged in? I do not mean to offend, it is just that if you felt a need concoct a ruse before your patrons up front, there may be some nearby with the means to eavesdrop, possibly using supernatural or magical means, since you clearly do not trust all them."
Morrigan blushes at Rexus' introduction and shyly waits for the others to speak.
Ignati laughs as Laria shrugs off his introduction from Rexus, it was a reaction he was used to by now. He sits patiently through the rest and when asked to explain his involvement, he answers eagerly.
Rex has been straight with us from the beginning, I can at least return the favor and trust those he keeps confidence with.
"Since you know who I am, it should not surprise you that I have taken...issue, with the recent political atmosphere in our dear city. I attended the protest to express my displeasure and when the riots broke out I found myself armed and in the company of those present. Fellow patriots willing to take the leap and put their lives on the line for what is right, not for what offers the largest political or monetary gain." He nods at his companions and smiles again. "It was together that we assisted Rexus here and he offered us an opportunity."
"As for what we found in the livery? Well we're still trying to figure that out really. Aside from a number of monstrosities that tried to kill us, we've a few trinkets and a locked coffer."
Like Wilhelm, Valleria was a bit lost during the beginning of the meeting, but now inside the back room she felt more comfortable. At her introduction she just nodded.
"We found mostly equipment left behind and aside from some magical birds, not a clue about the fate or any new secret about the Silver Raves... unless what we seek is inside the locked coffer."
Laria takes another sip of her coffee before continuing. "Oh, the performance out there was just a precaution; as much for their safety as for your's. They have plausible deniability now, should they be questioned. Now, let's get a look at this coffer. Are any of you good with tools, if you catch my meaning?"
"I have had some training, however I think my current set of tools may be a little lacking in quality and completeness."
"....Milani, the Everbloom, and under cover in the Asmodean Church for a year or thereabouts," says Corian with a smile. "And Laria, what may we know of you? Wonderful coffee, incidentally," he says graciously.
Laria reaches into her desk and retrieves a worn leather satchel, from which she carefully unpacks a finely-wrought set of tools.
"Well then, bring the box over here, I'll gladly lend you a hand" she says.
While she works, she casually continues the conversation.
"A Milani priest, hiding in that nest of vipers? You're a man who likes to live dangerously. I like that." she says with a chuckle. She continues:
"As you likely already know, I've been a friend of Rexus' mother for many years; she was my contact with the Sacred Order of Archivists. I help out a lot of folks in this city that want to avoid the attention of the Thrunes.
It started out shortly after I hit town. I'm not gonna go into details but...well, I owe the Bellflower Network a lot, and it's been my pleasure to help them whenever I can. Put one last group of free Halflings on a boat to Varisia before everything went to hell: Mayor "disappeared", Order of the Torrent disbanded, Archivists dead, and I haven't heard from the Rose of Kintargo or the Sarenrites.
It's rough out there, so don't do anything stupid and get yourselves caught."
Ignati listens carefully as the halfling woman cautions them. He tries to watch and learn as the coffers lock is picked but his mind keeps turning to more sinister thoughts.
Fausta, if they've killed you...
The idea of living without his twin is almost too much to bear and he shakes his head as though to rid himself of the idea.
"If you've been assisting, or at least in contact with these organization in the past, I assume you know of a few places to lay low as well? If we're going to be undermining the government we're not going to want to settle in any one place until we have a sizable force to defend it, make us too vulnerable."
Voreni marvels at the amazing tools the halfling presented him. He immediately unpacks his own familiar tools so that the both of them can work and share equipment and sits down to work hard on the lock. He tunes out the conversation in the background entirely, only picking up his ears when Laria offers some guidance or instruction as he works meticulously on the locked coffer.
"If you need a place to lay low, I've got some beds upstairs you can use. It's fairly private up there." she says, pointing up at a trap door in the ceiling. "I'll take you up there in a moment so you can all get some rest. It sounds like you've had a hell of a time. I hate grimples. Bloody disgustin' creatures...anyway, if you're looking for more of a base of operations, I think we can help each other there. But first, let's see what's in this thing..."
Working together, Voreni and Laria are able to defeat the sophisticated lock protecting the coffer. Inside are a large number of documents, and several scrolls.
The scrolls are:
- Misdirection
- Pass Without Trace
- Undetectable Alignment
- Whispering Wind
The documents are numerous, and as Rexus begins looking through them his eyes light up.
"These must be the Silver Ravens' records! There are hundreds of pages here...and they're in some kind of cipher. See, look at the script here...some Celestial, some Elven, and even a little Strix! It will take some time to decode these, but I believe I can do it!"
"Looks like I should have taken my language studies a bit more seriously!" Ignati says as he looks over Rexus' shoulder at the documents. "I've been working on cryptology but I'm sorry to say I'm still an amateur and this cipher is beyond my ability. "
He pats Rex on the back encouragingly and turns back to Laria.
"A bed is certainly welcome. You've been more than hospitable, if there's anything I can do to repay you, please let me know."
He takes a cursory look over the scrolls as he takes a seat and finishes his coffee and finally lets himself relax a bit. Their ordeal may not be over but it seemed the day was, and for now that was enough.
Laria opens up the trap door in the ceiling, pulling down a small ladder. The ladder leads up to a well-stocked study.There are three doors exiting the study; Laria leads you through the left door, which opens into a narrow chamber with several human-sized beds.
"You can bed down here for the night; we'll talk more in the morning. Meet me back in the study when you wake up."
Wilhelm, having watched and listened quietly through most the exchange, is relieved to see that there's someplace relatively safe, and clean, and comfortable to rest after the life-changing ordeal that was today.
"Thank you very much, Lady Laria, for you safe harbor. Your graciousness is well appreciated."
Now that he's not in mortal peril every other minute or so, the cumulative effects of all that peril have combined to make him quite tired.
I wonder if Lily made it home alright? I should check on her. Voreni glances at the ciphered scrolls, making a mental note to learn some, or all, of the languages they're written in. Leaving now might draw suspicion to our gracious host. I will have to settle in and check on her the next moment I have free.
"Thank you Lady Laria for your hospitality."
Valleria nodded at Wilhelm's words and also thanked the Halfling, though with less words.
Before going to bed though, she inspected and cleaned her equipment and checked again at her wounds.
After a bath and a full night's sleep, you awaken the next morning feeling much better (everyone regains 1 HP as normal for a full night's rest). It is quiet up here, but the scene of fresh baked bread wafting up from downstairs awakens you.
While you are waiting in the study for Laria, Rexus draws a small coffer from his bag and opens it.
"I wanted to thank you all for accompanying me to that awful place to recover what remains of the Silver Ravens. I wanted to reward you, but I have lost most of what my family once had in the fire. Still, this is what remains, and I want you to have it."
He sets the items out on the table:
"This is an heirloom, but having seen the manner of monster we may encounter in this venture, I would feel safer if one of you could put it to good use." (A masterwork silver dagger)
"The ring holds little sentimental value for me, and I suspect the gold you will get for it will do more to honor my parents' memory than a mere ring will, if it can help us restore Kintargo to liberty." (A signet ring worth 75gp)
"The bulk of the payment that I can offer you. Please do not refuse it; you have saved my life more than once, and in you lies my only hope of ensuring that my family's death was not in vain." (a sack containing 150gp)
"These bracers bear a minor abjuration enchantment. I hope they can protect you as well as you have protected me." (Bracers of Armor +1)
Rexus' hand pauses at the last item, a finely-wrought key made of Mithril.
"This...I will keep this. It's all I really have to remember her by."
"This is very generous of you, Rexus. I will not dishonor you by refusing, but I've gotten a good enough sense of my comrades to say that we didn't help you for the reward but for the good of Kintargo. ...That bread smells really good."
"If we're going to be actually pursuing," Voreni pauses and makes a face, clearly finding the next word distasteful, "Rebellion, then we have a lot to discuss. The bread does smell wonderful, though I hope our hostess brings some coffee. Before falling asleep last night I had several thoughts, and the generous contribution to our offer that Sir Rexus has granted us reminds me that one of the top priorities on my mind is addressing our little band's capital resources. Does anyone have any illicit contacts to buy any recovered contraband or materials that we do not want traced back to ourselves from us? We should make sure to set aside funds for operational costs, as well as make sure we pay ourselves to put to use toward maintaining outward appearances. I have few friends in the city, and no steady employment, so except for upgrading any of my gear to be more effective tactically and strategically, I have little need personally."
Voreni stifles a yawn and checks his backpack and gear out of habit. "The other thing we will want to figure out is where we can prepare a permanent headquarters to conduct operations from. Safe houses and bolt-holes would also be useful to us, as well as caching some material in case of trouble. Further down on my list is the need to adopt pseudonyms while working on removing the Lord Mayor from the city. We should develop a code name to refer to him and his agents as well." He begins to realize that he's rambling again and takes instead to cleaning and maintaining his tools and weapons.
"Lari mentioned that she may know of a few safe houses last night when I inquired." Ignati says in response to Voreni's list of priorities. "My family estate might be fore use in the most dire of circumstances. Black sheep I may be, but I haven't been disowned yet! As for this gift Rexus, I don't know what to say, but I will make sure you stand among the nobles again. If, of course, that is what you want."
He smiles and closes his eyes as he smells the bread in the air and sighs.
"It seems we should prepare for a delicious breakfast as well."
"I agree with Voreni in what I think is the gist of his point," says Wilhelm after a moment. He's no stranger to so many words, he just prefers a little longer to wake up before his mental gears all shift into place.
"I'm sure this will not be the last time we acquire solid assets, and it will probably make our ultimate goal simpler to achieve if, rather than getting bogged down in the minutiae of equitable distribution, we instead establish -- essentially -- an organizational treasury. Each person should make it their own responsibility to single out items that they think might have particular value to them or their effectiveness, the rest would probably better serve our purpose being converted into liquid assets.
"No offense meant in regards to your generosity this morning, Rexus," he adds, smiling and nodding in his direction. "I don't know that we would even be in this nascent stage of organization without your help."
Laria arrives via the trapdoor from downstairs, bearing coffee and and an array of baked breakfast treats, all still warm from the oven.
"I can't stay up here too long; the breakfast rush is going to start in about an hour. You're all welcome to stay up here as long as you need to, no strings attached, but there is a favor I'd like to ask...
Downstairs, below the cafe, I keep a...clandestine space. I call it the Wasp Nest. I use it to hide escaped slaves, Bellflower Tillers, and occasionally some items that are unjustly regulated by the crown. Anyway, I recently was letting a friend of mine, Nan Comerivos, use it to stash some stuff...Varisian textiles or something like that. Around the time all this trouble started, he went down there to check on the goods, and with everything being on fire here above-ground, I haven't had time to go down there and check on Nan.
Now, maybe I'm just a worry-wart. He's probably down there lying low...I've been leaving meals down there and someone is eating it, after all. But I'd really appreciate it if you could check in on what's going on down there. In return, I'm willing to let you use the space as a base of operations for as long as you need it."
"Of course Laria, a friend of yours is a friend of mine." Ignati smiles at the halfling woman while trying to recall if he's ever heard of her friend. He grabs a piece of bread and sighs happily. "And if we can add some of this bread to the deal, I'll be more than happy to use this Wasp's Nest of yours!" Winking he gets up from his seat and finishes preparing his arms and armor.
He takes a moment or two to pour over his formulae book and does some quick preparation, when he's done he turns to his new found friends with a smile.
"Shall we?"
Nom, nom, nom. "Thank you for the food. It is delicious. Sounds easy enough. But things are never as easy as they sound. I am very relieved we won't have to clean out that cesspool we were just in though. I'm ready when everyone else is."
Nom, nom, nom. "Thank you for the food. It is delicious. Sounds easy enough. But things are never as easy as they sound. I am very relieved we won't have to clean out that cesspool we were just in though. I'm ready when everyone else is."
"I don't know, Morrigan, filthy though it is, I think it could be a useful location. Thank you for the wonderful coffee, Lady Laria."
Voreni also goes over his formulae and begins preparing reagents, and mixes up shock shield and long arm extracts.
Wilhelm stands up, stretches out, then finishes a pastry in a two large bites.
"Hopefully the nastiness below the stables hasn't spread this far. Laria, if I give you some gold would you be able to have someone use it to get me a quiver of arrows while we're investigating this Wasp's Nest of yours?"
After the answer, whatever it is, and the potential hand-over of currency, Wilhelm retrieves his spear as the final stage of becoming prepared.
Valleria especially enjoyed the breakfast and the smell of fresh bread was one of her favorites.
"Hum... now that we have more resources, how about we spend it in a couple of healing potions, since none of us can wield the power of the God's in this way?"