Fortune shines upon the Silver Ravens. After cleaning up some of the mess in Clenchjaw's common room, the remaining bloodstains from the battle against the Asmodeans mix in pretty well with those left from the previous night's raid on the place.
You rent rooms at the Old Bridgeside Inn next door, and when night falls and the curfew takes effect, Davina hangs out near the back door to allow her fellow Ravens to slip in and out as needed. With Kiri's rooftop surveillance, the schedule of the dottari patrols from the bridge's guard stations can be quickly ascertained. Under magical silence provided by Leora and her wand, Dom and T'chazzar are able to quickly and quietly roll the body-barrels to the river's edge for disposal. The plan goes without a hitch.
Come morning, there's still no sign that the dead Asmodeans have been missed yet.
As they regroup in the Old Bridgeside, Dom sighs a sigh of built-up tension.
He says to no one in particular, "Never thought I'd be doing that before!"
"Disposing of bodies? Sadly, I've done it more times than I'd like," quips T'chazzar.
"I'm a little surprised that nobody came looking for them. But not entirely. After all, Asmodeans might take a chance on running an operation in hopes of currying favor with their success later, especially a priestess acting on her own authority. But it's good for us, so far."
"Unless another team shows up, though, I don't think we'll learn anything more from Clenchjaw's."
Domitius nods at T'chazzar's assessment of the situation. "Sadly, I suspect you're right. But still, we should keep an ear to the ground, and see if we can't figure out what happened to Clenchjaw."
"As for getting rid of bodies, closest I'd come before this, I think the Old Man was looking to get me fitted for a barrel, right before I met you. I still think we could put one or two into the composting pile at Eradon Manor..." Dom notices Davina's reaction. "Sudarynya, one of these days we just might not have a choice, okay? If I can figure out what to do with the bones afterwards, I actually think it's a really good idea..."
Leora is thrilled that for once, one of their plans goes off smoothly! She produces a bottle of wine to celebrate in the Old Bridgeside Inn once the deed is done. "Cheers! We saved a bar from falling into the devil's hands!"
Leora is unusually quiet as the group checks out the remains of the Thrashing Badger. After a bit, she talks to some of the locals, trying to find any other information, like if the Dottari found anything after searching the wreckage, or if anything else has been going on in the area.
Davina takes the drink offered by Leroa.
"Bury them deep then if you must use my compost pile. I'll have to work on something that eats remains quickly. Then there won't be any bones."
"The Badger looks so sad sitting here in ruins." She also searches for information.
"Bury them deep then if you must use my compost pile. I'll have to work on something that eats remains quickly. Then there won't be any bones."
"Of course. Again, this is just as a last resort. Or, you know, 'curry'." Domitius nods knowingly, touching his finger to the side of his nose.
At the ruins of the Badger, Dom looks around. "Sorry this had to happen, Leora. Looks like it was a really great place." But it helped bring us all together, he thinks to himself. Whatever fates control how a group of strangers unites as one, uh, thanks, I guess? Dom is so deep in thought that he can barely keep his mind on helping Davina collect information.
It only takes about an hour of asking around the docks to get some info about the current state of affairs in this part of the city. Folks are angry. Between the burning of the Badger and Thrune clamping down on Clenchjaw's, the number of good drinking holes on the docks has been reduced drastically. The Lord-Mayor's 8th Proclamation--banning ships' captains from coming ashore--has had a negative effect on trade as fewer and fewer ships bother to make port in Kintargo. Less trade means less gold in local merchants' coffers, as well as less work for stevedores and other folks who earn a living on the docks or at sea. Violence is way up, due to mounting frustrations in most decent folks, but those with darker hearts are turning to crime to keep gold in their pockets.
There are some slight discrepancies in the accounts of the Thrashing Badger's burning and the fallout after the event, but the general impression is that Barzillai Thrune sanctioned the arson. Leora can gather no solid leads on what the dottari may have salvaged from the place (other than at least two burned bodies), but some of the locals arrested in the aftermath were held for questioning concerning 'troublemakers' who frequented the bar for a few days before being released, while other folks present that night haven't been seen since.
You also learn from a witness that Clenchjaw himself was arrested during the more recent raid, looking strangely listless and confused.
One man whispers that an opinionated group of Milanites patronized the place, and he theorizes they were the reason the tavern was targeted. None of the Milanites have been seen on the docks since that night.
The tabard the priestess wore marks her as a low-ranking priest affiliated in some way with the city's Temple of Asmodeus on Temple Hill. Red and black, the tabard features the Archstar, Asmodeus' unholy symbol (a red upside-down pentagram).
The male assistant's simple black outfit--the shirt featuring the Archstar in the middle of a gray circle--marks him as a special agent of the Church of Asmodeus. Cheliax has a long history of redacting history to glorify the winners while marginalizing or even outright eliminating references to those who lost such conflicts. This fellow may have been one such redactor.
"What do you make of this, Miss Eradon?"
"Asmodeus isn't my area of expertise, but the tabard marks her as a low-ranking priest affiliated in some way with the city's Temple of Asmodeus on Temple Hill. Red and black, the tabard features the Archstar, Asmodeus' unholy symbol (a red upside-down pentagram)."
Domitius nods along, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "It's the Archstar," he says to T'chazzar, nodding as he does.
T'chazzar just shrugs.
Leora quietly shares the information about the rumor of Milanites being the reason the Badger was burned down. "How many other illegal religions were hanging out in the same building? At first, Leora is mad that the Milanites somehow got caught and got the Badger burned down. Begrudgingly, she admits that the two groups probably have similar goals and could have been working together.
She also takes a look at the priestess and her buddy's clothes.
The talk of disposing of bodies in compost and learning what the rumors on the street were mattered little to Kiri, instead the strix woman found a good vantage point on the rooftops and watched for troubles while her companions conversed. She was coming to wonder more and more why she stayed, her father was safe, they could leave and go elsewhere, somewhere, maybe, that they weren't going to be recognized, and make a new life. Still, this was the only nest she knew and she was loathe to simply leave without a fight. In the past her ancestors would have simply killed the humans causing all these problems and been done with it but now, that wasn't an option.
Eventually she came down and settled in to sleep and the next morning met with her allies in this endeavor once again. The discussions of 'illegal religions' was of little use to her, the strix ignored such things for the most part, but she listened anyway as you never knew when information might be useful. As they talked she looked at them and asked, "So what is our next move? How are we going to advance this rebellion?"
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It rains a bit during your return trip from Clenchjaw's and the Thrashing Badger, but not very hard. Still, seeing Laria approaching with a pitcher of hot coffee is a welcome sight as you enter her establishment.
"Rexus went off on his own to explore the ruins of his family estate after you left here yesterday," the halfling proprietor reports in a terse whisper. "Poor lad's in denial--still thinks there's a chance his parents'll turn up alive somehow. I think he was planning on trying to recruit Lady Jessibel to help him with the search. In any event, he's yet to return. But maybe that's not so surprising: It'd be just like a couple of young nobles to sleep through the morning and then eat an hour-long brunch while the rest of us do all the heavy lifting!"
To Leora she adds, "Almost forgot--this letter came for you about an hour ago." The crisp white envelope is sealed with a blob of imprinted blue wax.
You believe the seal pressed into the wax is the crest of the Vashnarstill noble family.
Dearest Leora,
Please forgive my recent silence: Jessibel mentioned in passing that due to some disappearances in the city, the time was not right for another night out in Old Kintargo. I hope that things have returned to normal for you, though it appears that’s not yet the case for Jessi. Phenio has tried calling on her at her family manor three times over the past week but has been turned away each time…something about Jessibel having been missing herself and being angry that my brother and I did nothing to find her. Honestly, we didn’t realize she was gone: Her family said nothing about the situation. Now she won’t talk to Phenio.
I’ve been patient about the situation, hopeful that it might be resolved and Jessibel’s hard feelings smoothed over by my brother, but she’s being stubborn about things. If Phenio’s inaction is the cause of a rift between himself and Jessi, I do not want to make the same mistake. I had a great time with you at the Tooth and Nail that night and have been looking forward to seeing you again ever since. I’d assumed we’d all have a second double date at some point soon thereafter, but now the blow-up between Phenio and Jessibel threatens that. I will delay no longer.
Would you be interested in a rendezvous with me on a night of your choosing next week? While I would love to have Phenio and Jessibel along for the laughs and company, I miss you and will wait on them no longer. Perhaps we can try to mend their frayed relationship over the next few days, but whether we succeed at that task or not, I would like to see you again.
I would also like to formally invite you to the annual celebration of the vernal equinox my uncle, Baron Sendi Vashnarstill, will be sponsoring on the last Sunday of this month. There’ll be some rather boring speeches and talk about the return of the prime fishing season I’m afraid, but there’ll also be lots of good food, drink, and dancing. I look forward to seeing your smiling face against the backdrop of those festivities.
Longingly yours,
Angus Vashnarstill
About 20 minutes later, a pair of figures wearing hooded cloaks strides boldly into the Nest; from the glistening of their weather-treated outerwear, you can tell it’s again raining steadily outside. Almost in unison, the pair throws back their hoods, revealing the organization’s only two remaining members of Kintargo’s nobility: Rexus Victocora and Jessibel Aulamaxa.
”I’m back!” a grinning Rexus announces. ”Me too!” chimes in Jessi with a wave and smile of her own.
Rexus explains that he decided to take the initiative and do some more exploration of his family’s burned out manor house last night, enlisting Jessibel (and, rather surprisingly, her elder brother Caeleb) to snoop around the ruins after dark. Although the trio found nothing, that result actually encourages Rexus some.
”The fact that we found no dead bodies whatsoever makes me more certain that ever that my parents are still alive somewhere…either in deep hiding or, more likely, held prisoner by Thrune. I’ll find them yet!”
"That makes two-thirds of the arson sites from the Night of Ashes explored," Rexus concludes. "Perhaps you folks could check out the Silver Star tonight or some time tomorrow, eh?" When Rexus heads off to chat and scheme with Laria Longroads, Jessibel reacquaints herself with her fellow Silver Ravens.
”Well, I got out of my two-week totally unfair grounding…though I’m still sort of on probation,” the girl admits. ”I told mother and the archbaroness that I’m simply too busy to sit around learning business acumen for two whole weeks! I’ve got end-of-semester exams to take soon, plus I have a lot of other irons in the fire with my new friends at the OHS—that’s the Opera House Society —not to mention finding Sabrina and helping you all overthrow Thrune and his goons, thus making Kintargo the most wonderful city in the world again!”
Coming up for air, Jessi asks, ”So…what’ve you guys been up to while I was away? And do you think you can live without me—or with limited participation on my part—for the next couple of weeks?”
*********************************************
When Davina (and whatever entourage that might accompany her) returns to her family home, her mother greets her with a peck on the cheek and delivers a letter that came earlier in the day.
You believe the crest pressed into the wax seal is that of the Aeldervenk family, one of Kintargo's lesser noble houses.
To the most esteemed Davina Eradon—
I hope this missive finds you well. I am a fan of your thrilling mystery stories and was particularly impressed with your latest effort, [I]Murders on the Riverfront, as were several of my closest friends and associates. I was wondering if you’d be available for a social luncheon in the near future to discuss your book with a few members of my social circle. Of course, I would be willing to pay a small fee of 50 gold sails in recompense for your time and would gladly send a coach to chauffer you between your family manor and my own.[/i]
Please let me know if this arrangement is amenable to you and we can set a date. Until then, I remain….
Sincerely yours,
Lady Jenna Aeldervenk
An invitation such as this assumes that you may be accompanied by one bodyguard, as the city is not as safe as it once was.
The Aeldervenks are one of the higher-ranking families of Kintargo’s “lesser nobility.” Their family business is mining iron and gemstones. They have been feuding with another family—the Mayharts—for over a century, stemming from conflicts over mining rights in the Menador foothills.
Just before the start of the new year, a Mayhart scion murdered Lady Jenna’s son, Lerish, on the Bleakbridge and hurled his body into the Yolubilis River.
With the return of Jessi and Rexus Kiri found herself relieved. It wasn't so much that they returned but that Jessi managed to survive being, well, Apprentice. "You've missed your training for days now." She cocked her head to one side and then said, "At least you are a better lire now if your mom believed you." She settled in and began to speak, "We checked out the Thrashing Badger, killed some Asmodeans, and came back. Not much else has happened."
Leora thanks Laria for the coffee, but turns down the cream and sugar, instead adding a splash of something from her flask. She nearly spits out the coffee concoction when Rexus concludes that finding no bodies must mean his parents are still alive. She keeps her mouth shut for once, aside from coughing to hide her reaction. Seeing the remains of the Badger had done the opposite. Leora was now even more certain that everyone who'd lived there was gone. If Thrune wanted people as prisoners, he would have just arrested them, like he'd done at Clenchjaw's.
Leora's mood brightens, and she can't help but grin as Jessi describes the unfairness of her grounding and plan to save Kintargo. "A couple of weeks, huh? We'll definitely miss you, Jessi, but sounds like you'll be learning and doing some valuable stuff. Do you still have that silver raven figurine, in case we need to get in touch?"
"Good question, Kiri. I like Rexus's idea of checking out the Silver Star. Maybe we can find some connection between all the buildings that got burned down, or some more people to join us." Leora looks around the table at her friends to see what other ideas they have.
Leora is pretty sure she wants to go. She's been cooped up in the coffeehouse long enough. And it's an excuse to party, even if it means hanging out with the young and slightly annoying Angus. But she's a bit nervous going to some noble thingy, especially if she will have to act all formal and listen to a bunch of boring speeches.
T'chazzar sips at coffee that's blacker than he.
"Sure, Rexus," he says as the lad cheerfully explains his conclusions. "As long as it's uncertain, there's hope."
To Jessi he replies, "I like opera music, thank you. Though I doubt the Society would have much use for me. The themes in drow opera are... not the sort of thing that I enjoy. Let's just say that convoluted revenge plots and torture are the mainstay of the drama."
He listens evenly to the current crop of ideas, then chimes in, "That seems like a reasonable lead to pursue. Also, at some point, we need to find out if the prisoners captured by the city are being held in regular prisons or if they have something else in mind for them. Because, well, at some point it's inevitable that we're going to have to stage a prison break."
Jessibel pauses before answering Kiri. "I put what you taught me to the test when we explored the Victocora ruins. I must've done well enough--we didn't get caught!"
She's lying about something!
******************
Speaking to Leora, Jessibel nods energetically. "Most of the people in the OHS hate Thrune; not surprising, since he took the Opera House for himself and ruined so many folks' livelihoods! There's a lot of promise for me to recruit from its ranks."
"As for the raven figure...my grandmother, the archbaroness, is holding onto that for now. She sort of knows some of what I've been up to--especially since I invited Rexus to brunch this morning--and having the raven at her disposal is a way of checking up on me. She has more faith that I can do something worthwhile for Kintargo and its citizens than my mother does, though."
"I suppose I've kept Phenio hanging long enough. Guess I can't be too upset he didn't come looking for me when the Ravens and my own family both kept my disappearance quiet. I'll go with you and give you a few pointers to avoid any faux pas."
*******************
When Jessibel speaks to T'chazzar, she does so with more than a little staring at the drow. The paladin's probably used to such stares by now, but at least he doesn't detect any disdain or distrust in the noblewoman's eyes: It's more likely he's the first drow she's even seen.
"Hmm...that sounds one or two steps more civilized than the infamous Theater of the Real we have throughout the empire...including here in the city. My friend--Sabrina Sarini--her father opened such a theater across the river several years back. I think her older sister runs it now. We went there once when some Riddleport pirates dared to dock here and were captured. Some were forced to take part in the play rather than going straight to the gallows. Sabs and I were rooting for the pirates, but...they never stood a chance."
When the talk turns to the fate of political and other prisoners in the city and the inevitability of an eventual prison breaks, the teen girl grins and announces, "We've already done one of those!" before giving the paladin an in-depth review of the rescue of Kiri's father--as well as Forvian Crowe and his whole team--from Sallix Salt Works
Jessibel says she'll ask around at the Opera House Society and on the streets regarding the subject in her spare time and report back her findings on the matter "in a day or two."
"I put what you taught me to the test when we explored the Victocora ruins. I must've done well enough--we didn't get caught!"
Something in Jess' tone perks Dom up. Staring at his friend skeptically, he raises an eyebrow and asks "Dymka, would you care to elaborate?"
"Well...Rexus will probably blab it anyways.... There was a small incident where I leaned against a section of burned wall and accidentally collapsed it, but no one heard it apparently. Other than that, I was silent as the grave!"
Domitius grimaces as he listens to Jessibel recount this tale. "Ugh. Please tell me you've learned from this: no slouching, no leaning on a job. Or next time, I push wall back over on you."
Allowing himself an ever-growing smile, Dom then turn to Rexus. "Exactly how much soot covered Miss Aulamaxa when she picked herself up? To my mind's eye, it looks like T'chazzar had a sister that's a brunette."
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Davina decides to head home before going back to the nest. She shakes off the water and gives her mother a peck on the cheek. "A letter?
She opens it and reads. "This is wonderful. I must tell my publisher right away. I just stopped by to see how things are here? Enough food in the larder, and oil in the lamps? I have been very busy with research for my next book."
She starts to head upstairs to gather some clean clothes and supplies. "What's that? No I will not send the gardener back here. He's been watching out for me as I do my research. You know some of the places I go aren't the safest. I want to get the feel for the areas I'm writing about. He'll get to the garden in the next day or two."
She starts to rummage through the wardrobe looking for that new skirt she bought. "What? I left him getting coffee. It's his day off you know."
After another twenty minutes of assuring her mother that no what she's doing isn't going to get her arrested, the half orc working for the isn't going to rob them blind or kill her in the night, and yes they will get the windows and walls fixed one of these days. Davina sets out for the Coffee House letter in hand.
Davina enters a little while after Rexus and Jess. Rain dripping off of her cloak. "Good to see everyone here. I just received the most interesting letter."
She passes it around. "It could be a legitimate request. I used to get those often. However, in these trying days. I'm inclined to think that there's more to this than just a light luncheon. They are lesser noble house, and have been fighting with another noble house for over 100 years. The Mayhart's the other half of the feud resorted to murder last year, and I'm guessing they think I can help in some way."
She looks at Dom with a straight face. "Mother wants the kitchen window fixed, and the rose beds trimmed soon. Oh and don't murder her in her sleep. She's very concerned about that. She would be most concerned if she heard the compost discussion." Then she laughs.
"I think I should take her up on the invitation. Has anything interesting happened here?"
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T'chazzar seems pleased at Davina's return. He listens as she explains the letter, then shrugs and says, "Just talking about the opera. Jessibel tells me that prisoners and convicts are sometimes forced into theater. While performers in drow society could be executed for a bad performance, they generally aren't convicts - nobody wants the embarrassment of a flop. It would be a social gaffe that would lead to quite a few offhand murders and some enraged matrons."
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Rexus grins at Dom's teasing. "Well, it wasn't that bad. She didn't help her case by hissing 'Shhh!' at the bricks after they'd fallen, though."
Jessibel glares at the two men briefly, not amused. When Davina arrives, she mutters something about now having 'someone mature to speak with' and heads over to check in with her favorite aasimar. When she hears of the invitation, Jessi confirms that she knows of the Aeldervenk family but doubts that Davina has anything to fear from its matriarch.
"She's been known to bring writers or musicians into her home for private lectures or concerts," the girl says. "My grandmother attends them occasionally--mostly the ones featuring singers or musicians, though. Old Jenna's always trying to climb up the social ladder, but she's harmless enough, I think."
Rexus gives Davina a quick recap of what he told the others and asks if the others will be visiting the ruins of the Silver Star that night or waiting 'til the following day.
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"I guess we should wait until tomorrow to check out the Silver Star. It's a long walk, and if we find something interesting, I'd hate to get stuck out after curfew. The Star's on the other side of Bleakbridge, kind of near the Opera House, right?"
Later, Leora sits down to pen a reply to Angus.
Dear Angus,
Thank you for the invitation to the- Leora consults the letter from Angus and carefully writes out the words- Vernal Equinox Celebration. Jessi Ms. Aulamaxa and I would be pleased to be your guests.
Leora puzzles over the signature line, tapping the quill against the table for a minute. "Lovingly Yours" was waaaay too sappy.
Cheers!
Leora
PS - Might be busy this week, not sure yet. If I'm free, we can meet for drinks one night, I'll let you know.
Kiri listened to Jessi speak and was startled when Dom caught out her lies. She glared at the young noblewoman and said, "You are a terrible apprentice then, making so much noise at least you still lie well." Her head shifted in Domitus direction a moment, "He got luck." She listened then, allowing the others to discuss things, while she contemplated how to test her apprentice and continue her training.
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"So what is our next move? How are we going to advance this rebellion?"
Dom frowns a bit, thinking. "I will admit, I am not quite sure. There was at least one other spot targeted on the Night of Ashes: Shensen's shop, no? Maybe a look around there might provide some clues. Do you have any other ideas, Kiri?"
As Rexus tells his tale of no-news-as-good-news, Domitius nods thoughtfully. I might think Rexus' hope is a fool's hope, but hell, neither of us has anything like proof to back us up, so why stomp the man's hopes? "May we find them soon, Rexus. And if we find they yet live, I will be happy to help free your family."
As Rexus recounts the tale of Jessi shushing the rubble, Dom makes a show of hiding his broad grin in his coffee mug, the imagery of the scene a bit too funny to not laugh at.
"I guess we should wait until tomorrow to check out the Silver Star. It's a long walk, and if we find something interesting, I'd hate to get stuck out after curfew. The Star's on the other side of Bleakbridge, kind of near the Opera House, right?"
"That sounds reasonable, Leora. As for the Silver Star, my impression was that it is - sorry, was - not too far from the Opera House, but I don't know for sure. Jess...?"
"He got luck."
Dom just gave a noncommittal shrug in response. Almost all of his attempts to engage with Kiri had been rebuffed, usually severely, and the half-orc was just at the point of giving up.
"Mother wants the kitchen window fixed, and the rose beds trimmed soon. Oh and don't murder her in her sleep. She's very concerned about that. She would be most concerned if she heard the compost discussion."
Domitius looks into Davina's eyes, doing his best to keep a serious tone. "I would never murder your mother in her sleep; she has earned better than that. I will make sure she understands that I will look her in the eyes when I come for her, and let her have at her cane." After a quick laugh, Dom takes a more serious tone. "Of course, Sudarynya. I will see to the rose beds as soon as we have a free day here; the day after tomorrow, revolutionary activities permitting. My guy tells me I should get that done before the weather warms much more. If it's okay with you, I will get a carpenter in to fix the window up right, and pay for that out of my own pocket, naturally. I'm still learning to use the tools for to do a proper job, and the one thing I suspect your mother would hate more than the job unfinished is having it done badly. In the meantime, set a date with Lady Aeldervenk, and I will be glad to accompany." Domitius takes a genuinely serious tone at the end, and nods deeply to Davina.
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Dom frowns a bit, thinking. "I will admit, I am not quite sure. There was at least one other spot targeted on the Night of Ashes: Shensen's shop, no? Maybe a look around there might provide some clues. Do you have any other ideas, Kiri?"
Kiri bobbed her head in the strix equivalent of a shrug and said, "I don't know, that seems as good a place as any to check out next."
Dom just gave a noncommittal shrug in response. Almost all of his attempts to engage with Kiri had been rebuffed, usually severely, and the half-orc was just at the point of giving up.
Kiri glanced at the half-orc and noted his reaction. She didn't understand him at all, not really, and it seemed he didn't understand her either. Her eyes narrowed at him and she seemed to be irritated as she asked, "What? You've been cranky at everything I've done or said to you." Her tone shifted to one of confusion as she continued, "Are you a jerk or just that dense?"
She sighed and rubbed her forehead as she considered and remembered how dishonest human types were with themselves and each other. Finally she said, "You keep apprentice safe, you have common sense, and I'm sure you're not un-handsome by your standards." She gestured and a chair was pushed by wind towards her and she hopped up on it to look him in the eyes and snapped, "Don't you understand flirting when you see it!"
"Don't you understand flirting when you see it!"
Dom's eyes widened. Not even the Firefly Man's feinting swordplay had caught the half-orc this off-guard. If Waspina (Dom's pet nickname for the statue in the Wasp's Nest) had chosen that exact moment to come alive and say, "Hey guys, don't worry, I've got this whole Barry Thrune thing handled," that would only be the second-biggest surprise of the day.
Dom put down his cup of coffee, and turned to face Kiri, his face very serious. "No, Kiri, in this case, it would seem I did not. I am far from experienced at these matters, and whether from that inexperience, or not knowing how a strix woman might act, I missed those signs."
Domitius pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I am afraid those feelings... are not mutual, Kiri. I have a -- no, what is word, I 'carry a torch', I think it is -- for someone else: Zea." Dom is a bit embarrassed to be talking about this in front of the whole group, plus Rexus and Laria to boot. Still, he continued. "I am sorry, but it wouldn’t be right of me to pursue Zea and you at the same time."
Dom sits back, brow furrowed, troubled at this turn of events. All this time, I misjudged her. These are strange days, indeed...
Rexus raises an eyebrow and grins as it comes to light who's flirting with whom and who's pining for whom within and around the rebellion; Jessibel is rendered speechless for like the third time in her life. Treep Fushi, sitting at a nearby table playing cards with her sister Maggie, lets out a trilling chirp.
As Rexus recounts the tale of Jessi shushing the rubble, Dom makes a show of hiding his broad grin in his coffee mug, the imagery of the scene a bit too funny to not laugh at.
Kiri figured that Domitius would respond like he did, she had picked things up after all, but she still felt it was best for him to know so he understood. Hopping down from the chair and letting a gust put it back she said, "That's fine, it's not serious flirting after all, just something to do. You're not a strix so there wouldn't be a point in much more than that. I just figured you should know since it isn't right to keep secrets from your tribe." She looked at Jessi, "And you don't lie to your tribe." Her eyes narrowed at the noblewoman who had tried to lie about her progress, "Unless you want to be removed from the tribe." With that Kiri turned and headed for the alley so she could get up on the roof and keep watch for a while.
T'chazzar chuckles at the exchange and goes back to doing something odd with his hands.
Davina jaw drops when Kiri makes her statement about flirting when one sees it. What a great line. I'll have to remember to use it. Her ever present notebook comes out, and she begins writing furiously while Dom and Kiri clear the air.
"What are you doing T'chazzar?" Davina finally notices that he's doing something.
"Ah, it's just a concentration exercise," he says nonchalantly to Davina.
After Kiri leaves, Domitius sits silently for a minute. He blinks twice, then, without even looking at anyone, holds his coffee cup out towards Leora, waggling it in that fill-me-up gesture.
"Wow. Tell me, did any of you know that was coming? Anyone at all?"
He takes a big pull off his coffee. Between having already forgotten there's booze in it, and not being used to strong drink in the first place, he comes up coughing almost immediately.
After some time spent regaining at least some of his compsoure back, Domitius catches Jessibel's attention. "Dymka, may I ask a favor...?"
"I didn't mean anything by lying about my little accident during our search through the ruins: I was just practicing," Jessibel tells the others as Kiri leaves. "Me grandmother, the Archbaroness, actually encouraged me to do so, seeing how easily I can misdirect my mother. The Archbaroness has a team of agents who work for her to shape and form public opinion on certain matters--usually trade or economic policies--but in the current state of affairs in our city, she's shifting it more into the political forum. She thinks I could be an asset, given a little more time and practice."
When Dom asks his question, the young noblewoman chuckles and admits, "I didn't at the time, but now with the benefit of hindsight.... It's not that unusual for those who are attracted to one another to pick on the object of their affection: It gets the target to pay attention to you, right?"
To Dom's second inquiry, Jess nods and asks for a general description of the kind of mask he'd like.
Lastly, Jessibel announces that she's going to the Opera House Society HQ immediately and likely won't be able to check in for several days. She promises to take the main roads and not go exploring any gremlin-infested ruins or the like. As for the plans to explore the ruins of the Silver Star, she suggests that her friends get rooms at the Grey Heron Inn, located only about a block from the burned-out building. She also says that the group could probably use the Opera House Society HQ as a staging ground, but it's located several blocks distant from the Silver Star.
"Who knows? If you guys don't drop by the Opera House headquarters, maybe I'll sneak out and join you! Be on the lookout for a mysterious gal dressed in black!" she concludes, mischief in her eyes.
Rexus suggests buying a hooded lantern for Leora. "Whether you use oil or magic to light it, you can quickly close off the brightness should someone draw near. That's what Jessibel, Caeleb, and I used while exploring my family manor."
Thinking back to Jessi's first remarks, Dom chimes in, "To be fair, she didn't actually lie. She said they weren't caught, not that she didn't go rampaging through burned-out walls like a drunken ogre." Dom again stifles a brief laugh.
"It's not that unusual for those who are attracted to one another to pick on the object of their affection: It gets the target to pay attention to you, right?"
"I suppose so, when you put it that way. I, uh, I am not inclined, I guess, to think about interactions like that. Sharkey wasn't whipping me into shape to get good at talking to girls, you know?" Dom shrugs. "One more set of skills I do not have. Yet."
"Orcish warriors sometimes wear battle masks with fearsome visages, the better to strike fear into their foes. I wish to create the illusion that 'Dukkan, Warlord of Belkzen' has come to fight the Asmodeans. Sadly, the roshka blood in my veins has ruined my rugged good looks," he quips. "I figure a mask will help me perpetuate a good disguise, yes? I'm sure there are other things I can do to augment the illusion. Alchemical dyes to give my skin its proper dark hue. These things can be done, yes, Sudarynya?" After asking Davina that question, he returns his attention to Jessibel, and describes the general features of such a mask to her.
Later, on the move to from the Grey Heron to the ruins of the Silver Star...
...Dom is a friggin' hole in the night.
Jessibel assures Dom there are plenty of talented artists and craftsmen in the Society able to create a mask for him. She also points out that (when she's around) she can use a prestidigitation spell to darken and color Dom's skin to be more orcish.
Lastly, she asks for a refresher course on some Orcish terms: Dymka as opposed to Sudarynya in particular.
Any chance Leora could have thrown a spell or two to help me out?
Dom chuckles. "Well, 'Dymka' is roughly 'smoke girl'. Sabrina would be 'Ogonka', or 'fire girl'. Pretty much a straight-to-Orcish translation of your nicknames." At mention of Sabrina, the fact of her continued absence gnaws some fresh worry into Dom's heart.
"To be sure, while it is Orcish, 'Sudarynya' is not a word that sees much use in Belkzen, things being the way they are with orcs," Dom says. "But you would be surprised the range of Orcish language besides 'fire', 'axe', and 'kill'. 'Sudarynya', the closest translation into Taldane is probably 'Madam'. It is a term of respect, used for a woman one acknowledges as a superior, or a leader." Domitius, feeling about as self-conscious as he can ever recall having felt, stops there, not noting the usage it still retains among cults of the goddess Dretha. Or a mother...
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Leora nearly spits out her coffee a second time at Kiri's revelation. She grins, refilling Dom's mug , waiting for him to give the motion for enough. "I didn't realize it either," she says to Dom.
She agrees that Rexus's idea to buy a hooded lantern is a good one, and purchases one on their way to the Grey Heron.
Knowing that she is nowhere near as sneaky and quiet as Kiri or Dom, Leora says a quick prayer before they slip out of the Grey Heron for Cayden Cailean to quiet her steps. But she's too busy thinking about what she should bet with Dom on next to realize that she's just walking down the middle of the street while her friends quietly stay in the shadows...
T'chazzar does his best to slink along with Dom, though he's not really skilled at being stealthy.