Nightgaunt, come with me this way. A couple of others should walk along the other wall. See if there is some sort of crevasse that could conceal anything. Then we will look to the area beyond. Once the masked man joins her, Alliszah moves carefully along the left-hand wall, running her gloved hand over the dust-caked walls. The murk of the pool beside her continues to hold her attention, and she tenses slightly as she walks past it, but the room beyond offers (hopefully) some relief from the nervousness. I hate that this spell leaves me so on-edge...but Aunt Lyssa was right. You can never know where the danger will emerge from.
Nightgaunt nods and moves with Alliszah, looking to see if there is anything hidden. As she focuses on the wall, he'll focus on the floor and ceiling... also distracted by the pool.
As you approach the back, you can see that these rooms have fallen mostly into disrepair. Chunks of plaster hang from the walls, exposing rough stonework beyond. Scattered furnishings that once outfitted bunkrooms, a kitchen, and even an armory lie scattered about in states of complete disrepair, and doors hang from hinges in the crumbling archways that lie between the chambers.
Nightgaunt points to one of the lumps on the floor. "Bodies here. Looks like lemures, the minor devil. Probably torn apart by those grimples."
In the back room, Nightgaunt with some satisfaction, "Now we're finding what we're looking for."
He goes to the small box next to the nest in the northeast corner of the room. Holding up one of the silver raven figurines, he says to the ohters, "This is the sort of thing we're looking for. Looted by whatever creature built this nest."
He scans the documents, to see if there is anything of particular interest in there.
He will also scan the entire set of items for magic, pulling out anything that is magic.
He gestures at the watertight iron coffer. "This one is locked."
Abelard does his best to keep away from the worst of the filth, and follows the others warily. It looks like the worst of the danger is now past, but if there's any more fighting to be done he won't shirk from it.
Certainly promising. Let me see what I can learn. Once again, Alliszah reaches out with her mind for psychic imprints around her, sifting through the items carefully to let her connect with them as much as she can.
The coffer is locked. The raven figurines are clearly magical, as are the suit of armor, the shortbow, and the cloak.
As you rifle through the crate's goods, you all hear the same, faint pan-pipe music echoing through the halls, this time coming from behind you.
"Um, the cloak is an aid to stealth, the Ravens are figurines that animate. I couldn't work out what the bow or armor was, sorry."
Korva pipes up, surprising everyone as she's been as quiet as possible so far. Still unsure as to why she's here, or what the purpose of the group was?
With guidance from Nightgaunt, Alliszah examines the items for their magical properties, trying to set aside the pain and panic her psychic senses had revealed. But the intense emotions prove too distracting - try as she might, she cannot deduce what enchantments might bolster them. These were important, she finally speaks up. I can feel that. Whoever hid this - even so long after, I can follow their search, their hope for someplace that would stay secret. And the worry that clouded the hider's mind...the loss...whatever was happening, they knew it was the end. They didn't expect to live on...but perhaps they hoped they could do something that would last, hiding these things here.
The set of Nightgaunt's mouth is visible underneath the shadow from the hood that covers most of his face. "It sounds like a tragic end. Perhaps we may be able to help whoever it was who put these here make something that would last."
He focuses on the magic auras of the various items
"This leather armor has a minor magical enchantment upon it that improves its defensive qualities."
You may have noticed that Nightgaunt's outfit includes leather armor.
"If nobody else is interested in this, I could make use of it."
He looks to Korva. "When the figurines animate -- do they do anything in particular? Given that they are in the same form as the organization whose lost hideout we are presumably searching for, they could be of symbolic value, but they may also be of great practical value."
Korva looks up from examining the workmanship on the Silver Ravens. "Oh, they will carry a message on the owners command, but not much more than that. Still, it is a discrete way to communicate if you are part of a conspiracy."
After looking at the various arcane runes on the wall, Onorix becomes considerably paler. Inactive or not, the fact that such foul magic was once used in a place that was allegedly used by anti Thrune rebels did not bode well. He quietly follows the others as they begin to look over the objects in the crate, although he takes the time to put one of his regular swords back in it's sheath and pull out another short sword: this one made of silver.
The hair on the back of his neck seems to crawl as he hears the strange music growing closer. "Shhhh... listen. It's getting closer. Something isn't right here."
Abelard cocks an ear, listening to the music. "Now it's coming from behind us. I didn't see anything back there, did you?"
He walks a few paces off from the rest of the group, trying to listen where the pan pipe sound is coming from.
Parai has been lost in thought for a while, following the group along but not contributing much. She holds her mace firmly, turning head from side to side as she scans for threats. When the group finds the cache in the back room, she lets others rifle through it for a while, but when it turns out nobody can seem to analyze the shortbow, she picks it up... ...but can't really contribute anything new about it either.
"Those statuettes...and the seal on those documents...could this have been a place significant to the Silver Ravens? Or has someone just planted them as a gag? I'm not sure I believe the stories about them in the first place. Even if the Silver Ravens were real, what are the odds of this cache staying here for decades?" Parai frowns as she ruminates over the possibilities. "And those lemures? If they were lairing here until the grimples destroyed them, were they...what, guarding these Silver Raven insignias? Why? The rebels shouldn't have been particularly friendly with the denizens of Hell."
When Onorix calls out attention to something not being right, Parai comes out of her ruminations and looks around, gripping her weapon firmly again. "You're right...I hear music of some kind...pipes, maybe. I don't recognize the melody."
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Abelard nods. "It appears to me that the music is coming from the room back there, where those vomiting types attacked us."
Onorix addresses the group, " I can't help but agree with you." He says, responding to Parai's remark. "This doesn't seem right. If all of you are okay with it, let me have the cloak and I can go over and check out the noise. I know how to be quiet, and if that thing does what you say it does it'll help me investigate whatever is going on, including that noise."
Alliszah nods consent, handing over the cloak. As she passes it along, her eyes flash an intense gold for a moment, and a warm, buoyant feeling spreads from where her hand brushes against Onorix's arm. Something else as well. To help, she adds simply, letting her hand linger for a moment before letting go.
Onorix, as you lurk out into the main room of the basement, the noises stop abruptly. Your ears strain to hear any more, but the music has ceased. The hatch to the livery floor remains open, light spilling down into the dank cellar beneath.
"Maybe we should just get out", Parai suggests. "We appear to have what we came for -- Rexus was interested in any documents here. He didn't say anything about chasing any ghost music."
I agree, Alliszah responds to Parai's concerns, looking warily over her shoulder. We have what we came for - let's get out of here.
Onorix nods his head, "Fine by me. I'd rather not spend another moment in this place if possible."
"Yes, clearly this place has been occupied by something unpleasant." Korva agrees eagerly. Ready to to leave as soon as possible.
Abelard nods in agreement, although his expression shows he's still curious about where that music is coming from. Oh well. He wasn't meant to know everything.
Nightgaunt hesitates. Like Abelard, he's very curious about what the music was. However, after hesitating, he follows the others out. Perhaps Rexus will know something. And, if not, we may have the opportunity to come back later. It would be good to know what he can glean from these documents.
Parai remains mostly silent the way back to Rexus, mostly thinking to herself what the Silver Raven documents found in a pile of lemures could mean. One explanation is that the lemures were guarding the documents...but why? Did the lemures want to prevent anyone from finding the documents? Why didn't they just destroy them? Could they have been warded against them somehow? Then why didn't their master send something more powerful to sunder those wards? How long had the lemures been there? Years? Decades?
We should split up again. Leave some time between us, even, to avoid drawing curiosity. Gently, Alliszah places her hand in Nightgaunt's elbow again, ready to depart.
Nightgaunt nods to Alliszah's suggestion, and heads back to Rexus with her.
"Alright. But stay safe. I've never seen the streets like that before." He flashes a smile. "Anyone in need of an escort?"
Korva holds her hand up hopefully at Abelard's kind offer..
"Well, I guess we're stuck with each other", Parai lifts an eyebrow to Onorix, as the other four pair off with each other.
"I suppose we are." Onorix says as he heads over towards Parai. "The two of us should leave last, we'll hold onto the documents. If I run into any sort of trouble I can't get out of, I'll destroy them before letting them fall into the wrong hands. We likely don't need to worry on that front though- I know some paths that aren't really patrolled too frequently."
Which should be good for multiple reasons. He'd have to tell Parai about the flyer he saw earlier. The walk back would be a good place for that... and to get answers to some other questions as well.
Parai raises an eyebrow when Onorix mentions destroying the documents. Only after the two of them have parted from the others, does she say, "Do you think that would be wise? Those documents could hold material of great historical importance. If those lemures were guarding the documents, they could be valuable to Hell and thus a valuable bargaining chip for the throne. Just because Barzillai is a moron does not mean we should destroy something valuable to the queen to spite him." She frowns a little and lowers her eyes, studying the ground as she walks. "It's true that such documents could theoretically be used to incriminate us of serious things, especially under Barzillai's fascist tactics... But important information could be lost. Are our lives worth more?"
The six of you reconvene at Crissali's bookstore without event. There, one of the clerks in the front slips you a small note that simply says "Long Roads Coffeehouse - R"
She explains that Long Roads, a small local coffee shop owned by a Halfling woman named Laria Longroads, is across town, in the Villegre district of Northern Kintargo. She gives you each a knowing look, and promptly returns to her business of reshelving stacks of books without another word.
Long Roads Coffeehouse caters to an eclectic mix of customers, serving coffee and food to bright-eyed students of the Villegre, and delivering fancy desserts and pastries to the noble estates in the Green. It is renowned for its traditional halfling fare, and its proprietor, Laria Longroad, is a lovable member of the community.
Upon arriving at the coffeehouse, a Halfling woman greets you. After only a moment, she comes out from behind the counter, a flour-covered apron around her waist, holding a carafe of steaming hot coffee in one hand, and mugs looped around her fingers in the other. A human woman trails behind her holding two large platters of various tarts and pastries. "Ahhh, my goodness, look who it is! It's been so long, my dears. Please, come with me? I'd love to catch up. You simply must tell me everything." Her eye gives a quick, sharp wink, barely enough for you to notice, as she gestures toward a door leading into an office in the back of the house.
Korva perks up and eyes both the coffee and the pastries very greedily. She follows the Halfling woman without really thinking too much about it in her hunger.
Nightgaunt regards the halfling woman, and follows her to the back of the house.
Down the rabbit hole, he thinks. Hopefully this will help us learn more about the Silver Ravens.
They were already deep in - there was nothing for it but to see this through, at least get the documents to Rexus. But still, Alliszah hangs back slightly as she approaches the coffee house's doors, her own face an impassive mask beneath the actual mask she wears. She knew she was well-concealed, but it still felt off to her to mingle, to frequent the haunts of the less-privileged. It felt off...but there was an undeniable thrill to it, too, to being part of a crowd for once instead of always shut away.
For a moment as she enters, she wonders if the young nobleman they'd met would be foolish enough to conduct such business in the open of a crowded dining room - but as the halfling woman gestures, she nods, hoping against hope she isn't making the wrong choice as she follows. And we make an ally of a slip now - no, no. A halfling.
On way to Long Roads:
Onorix guides Parai through the back allies of Kintargo, trying to avoid the guards and and any other interaction wherever possible. "We'll have to talk about what's happened to you later, but you should know I saw some servants from your family looking for you earlier. They had a flyer- maybe they'll be posting them around Kintargo, but I haven't seen any others yet."
---------------
At Long Roads
Onorix smiles at the hailing woman, immediately recognizing the ploy and choosing to run with it. "Your hospitality is as welcome as ever. You'll scarcely believe the harrowing tale we have to tell you, I'm sure!" He says as he follows her into the back room.
Transfixed by the aroma of coffee, Abelard realises how long it has been since he last ate. His stomach growls. "I don't suppose there's any chance of pastries, are there? Seeing has how we know one another so well and everything..."
A chap has to keep his strength up, after all.
You enter the back office, where Rexus sits idly in the corner, his boots up on the table, a cup of hot coffee in one hand, and a fruit pastry in the other. His mouth grows into a wide grin of relief as he sees you all file in after the Halfling proprietor.
He sets the pastry back onto his plate and waves the door closed before speaking. There are 8 empty chairs, and more platters of food and carafes of coffee on the table. Laria nods in thanks as her assistant deposits the trays she was carrying, and gestures for her to leave the room. After, Laria sits in the seat closest to the door, her own feet swinging up to rest on the corner of the table as she reaches over for a small peach tart. "Sit, dearies. I'm a trustworthy sort of lass, I swear it. I've secrets of my own, which put me in far greater danger than anything Rexus' Silver Ravens could manage."
Rexus finally sighs, and begins speaking as soon as the door closes.
"Oh, goodness, I'm so glad you've made it! What have you come up with? Did the livery provide us any clues as to the nature of the inquiry I made?" His eyes have a hopeful look, and he sips his coffee slowly, watching the lot of you.
While Parai and Onorix are alone
Ugh, he's talking about my family again, Parai squeezes her eyes shut as Onorix speaks. She rolls her eyes inwardly a little bit, and lets out a slightly exasperated sigh. "Hnh", she just grunts. It doesn't take a great Sense Motive roll to get the feeling that she is disinterested in pursuing this avenue of conversation.
When with the others again
Parai raises an eyebrow at Laria's words. "Rexus has Silver Ravens now? This is news to me", she says, and it's not entirely certain whether she understands Laria's implication and is just being facetious, or whether she genuinely doesn't know what she's talking about. "You should have sent them instead of us...Rexus."
As for the documents, she made a point out of not being the one to carry them, so she holds silent on that matter, letting those holding the documents do the talking for them.
Abelard nods. "It had a number of interesting features that I shan't bore you with, but there were some documents."
Rexus receives the stack of papers from and shuffles them a bit, flipping through the pages, an expression of wonder apparent on his face. His fingers move faster with each page, as if hurrying to get to the end. "These...this is...extraordinary! These documents are ciphered. It will be difficult to translate, and it may take some time, but I'm certain I can work it all..."
His voice trails off after a moment when he realizes that he'd forgotten to introduce Laria to any of you. He clears his throat, setting the papers on the table and taking another sip of coffee.
"Forgive me, friends, please. This is Laria. She is the owner of this establishment, and one of my late mother's dearest friends and allies. She has a vested interest in the return of the Silver Ravens to Kintargo, as she is the leader of our local chapter of the Bellflower Network."
Laria nods in agreement to this statement, chiming in as she picks up a pastry, taking a small bite and speaking with her mouth half-full of raspberry filling and crust. "Rexus is right. I knew Madam Victocora well, and worked with her for decades to record and research anything we could find about the Ravens. Tell me, what did you find in the Livery? Anything else of note, or just these papers?"
Parai glances at the pastries.
She hasn't eaten in a couple of days, which is just the point where fasting is the worst. After three days or so, the cravings tend to go away, but at two days they're still pretty much at their peak. So the desire for food is at near maximum, and the pastries smell oh so delicious. My will is iron. I will show no sign of weakness in front of these people. Her face is set hard and firm, emotionless as she responds to Laria's question.
"Why were there lemures at the location of these documents?" she puts it very bluntly. "Is there something about the Silver Ravens that you are not telling us?"
Laria is aghast at the mention of Lemures. "I've not heard of such things! The Silver Ravens would never deal with the Infernal! It simply wasn't their way! The livery was abandoned for some years. Perhaps something else inhabited it, in their absence?"
Rexus sighs, pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose. "You mentioned the presence of sigils and symbols, scrawled into the wall? It is more likely that some denizen of Hell was trying to return home, I should think."
Laria nods, "Yes, I think Rexus is correct. We have no proof that the Ravens were connected with such foul devils. At any rate, I'd like to make you all an offer, if you'll have it. Please, sit and eat. I refuse to discuss business on an empty stomach, and I'm certain you're all famished." She looks directly at Parai as she says this last part, as if to say your longing stares are proof of that.
Once he's inside the back room of the bakery, Onorix's pleasant facade drops, his face turning into a frown as he hands over the documents. "Lemures, strange noises seemingly haunting the place, and runes that look like they led to Hell." He says, allowing the details of the place to speak for themself.
He looks skeptically at both of his group's hosts before sighing and saying, "We don't have proof of anything. It's only because I know you are probably the only person in this city who'd like to see Thrune's burning corpse impailed on pike more than I would- assuming he really is behind the arson, of course- that I even bothered to entertain the idea that you aren't trying to set us up and brought these documents back to you. People aren't always what they seem. You'd all do well to learn that lesson sooner rather than later."
He absentmindedly grabs one of the pastries and takes a bite of the pastries. Father would be furious if he knew where I was, wouldn't he?
Korva looks up guiltily from several murdered pastries, hurriedly wiping her face clean of jam and crumbs. "An offer?" She asks to quickly change the subject.