Dom seems lost in his thoughts and anger, but eventually he hears what Davina's saying and manages a curt nod. He frees her from her bonds as Falina shapechanges her way loose. Eventually, everyone's free although currently unarmed. One of the tieflings stirs, apparently having been paralyzed in the ghoul assault; although injured, he's able to stand up. He draws his blade but in a defensive manner, and begins inching toward the landing to the southwest, having had enough battling for one night. His comrades are beyond merely paralyzed--they're bleeding out or dead.
Leora heals the remaining tieflings and the party quickly with a burst of channeled energy, and takes a long drink from her flask. She offers it first to Dom, and then anyone else who wants some.
Once the Ravens are untied and on their feet, she suggests they go to the bell tower to retrieve their weapons.
Leora's healing doesn't bring any of the tieflings back to consciousness*, but she stabilizes those in danger of bleeding out. In the church bell tower sits the pile of your weapons, next to what appears to be a nest made of blankets and pillows. There's also a large leather sack there: Inside are coins (12 pp, 279 gp, 1,302 sp, 530 cp) and pieces of jewelry (750 gp).
The one Red Jill who survived has crept away, leaving his unconscious comrades to whatever fate awaits them.
"Great work, Leora. Thanks," says T'chazzar as he doesn't even have to rub his wrists when the channeling washes away the rope burn.
"Now we have to decide whether to renew or attack, or try to get the survivors to talk."
By the time she turned to address the fleeing tiefling he was already gone. She wasn't planning to kill him but she was going to let him have it. Still she had others still here to vent on so she was willing to let the one flee. "I think we would be better off to withdraw for now. I don't think we really need to wait around for the winged b$@!@ to come back or the ghoul to come for the corpses." She looked at the unconscious captors and said, "Lets restrain them, or at least disarm them , before they wake up."
A quick examination of the Red Jills' equipment reveals that their short swords--with which they were less-than-impressive--are of masterwork quality; the crossbows that were so precise and devastating in their hands seem to be of regular quality. Each also wore studded leather armor and carried about 20 bolts and basic thieves' tools.
Leora takes a quick look around to see if there is any way to exit from the rooftops into either of the buildings below. "If it doesn't take us out of our way, let's make our way out through one of these buildings, see if there's anything inside real quick."
Davina grabs the bag with the gold and gems. "You know this was stolen. Let's just steal it again." Then she snatches up several bolts from the tieflings, and her gear. "Let's get going. Quickly check out the buildings, but I think the Citizen's Group will be headed this way soon, and we do not want to be here."
"Good call." T'chazzar finishes replacing his gear as quickly as he can. "This was a mess. Sorry, team."
Dom stoically scoops up Zea in a fireman's carry, obviously intending to carry her body wherever the group goes next.
The two buildings that make up the Red Jill's headquarters--the church (north) and the orphanage (south)--are both gutted on the inside, featuring little more than crates that might serve as chairs and a brazier or firepit for use on cold nights. The small rooftop shed-like room atop the church features a ladder leading down to the ground floor; it's smeared in places with blood and gore. A trail of blood leads to a now-obvious trap door in the floor next to a filthy blanket that once likely covered it. A quick peek beneath the trapdoor reveals iron rungs hammered into stone walls, a ladder down into the city sewers.
At the Red Jills
Before they left Falina looked to the surviving Jills. "We either need to kill them or take them with us, they know too much." She sighed as she knew they weren't going to end the lives of these fools. "I don't imagine you want to kill them."
She recognized one of them as a sympathizer and he had kept the ghouls from reaching them. That one had potential at least. She looked to Leora, "Can you get that one up and moving? He wasn't happy about what happened and tried to protect us from those undead things. He doesn't need to be left here to die or suffer at Thrune's hands."
"I'll get him up," says T'chazzar. He gives the man a brief touch and starts pulling him onto his feet.
The tiefling groans and stirs as T'chazzar heals more of his wounds. He starts upon seeing the drow loose but then seems to accept his fate. "What happened?" he asks. After a pause and a cautious glance around, he adds, "Is Scarplume dead?"
Having shifted back to her normal form while the others had gotten up Falina said, "Thank you," when T'chazzar volunteered. She turned her gaze to the tiefling as he rose and said, "No, she hasn't, but she left you and these others for dead and likely won't be looking for you." She offered her hand to the man and said, "Come and join us, you can do some good to make up for what you cost us." She gestured to where Dom was carrying Zea away. "That woman, Zea, was an ally, because of your cowardice in the face of Scarplume she died. You and those two," she gestured to the other unconscious tiefling, "Are the only survivors," she cocked her head to one side thoughtfully, "Well, and the ones working at the casino. Join us, help make a difference and make Zea's death worth it. We'll keep you out of Scarplume's way and we will deal with the flying b#~#& eventually."
Davina stands next to Dom waiting for Falina to convince or not convince the Tiefling to join them. "We need to get moving. We could use the sewer tunnels, but I'd rather not." She shudders at the memory of the plant creature the last time the group went into the sewers.
The tiefling seems to give carefully consideration to Falina's words, but his eyes narrow when the pitborn admits to knowing that more of the gang is working an angle at the gambling hall. They widen in shock when she says that Zea is dead.
"I...I don't know what to think or do now," he says. "Things will certainly never be the same after the events of this night. I'll speak with the others, but don't get your hopes up: They likely won't dare oppose Lord-Mayor Thrune."
Falina considered what the tiefling said and then said, "We have business that involves the owner of the casinao as well, if you won't help us with Thrune maybe you can help us with that." She reached out to touch his arm, "I'me sure we can find someway to work together."
The tiefling stiffens slightly at Falina's touch. After a long pause, he asks, "How can I get in touch with you, if I choose to accept your proposal? I cannot do so yet: I must first see what the other fallout from this night might entail."
"We didn't come here with the intent of being your enemies. While it may not be good to show our faces right now, if we can help - treating wounds, arranging a new place for a hideout - we will," offers T'chazzar.
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"Zach's place isn't too far away, we could spend the night there," Leora suggests, hoping her friends realize what she's hinting at.
Falina considered the tiefling's question and said, "When you've made your decision come to Serra's Bistro at ten bells. Someone will be watching for you and wave you to their table. Tell that person your decision, and that of the other surviving Red Jills. They will direct you or not from there."
Falina looked at Leora questionongly and asked, "Who is Zach?"
Leora tries to hint at the answer, in case the tieflings decide to rat them out to the Dottari later. "I guess you've only been there once, Zach was the handsome guy who woke you up."
The party meets no resistance as it creeps west to Songbird Hall. A rap on a back door brings Lydia and the acolyte Dannin to cautiously answer. The young priestess agrees to let the party crash in the temple's guest rooms so long as they're gone before the Asmodean overseer arrives. Young Dannin leads Dom down into the temple's old crypts, where the half-orc can place Zea until you've decided what to do with her mortal remains.
You all get a decent night's sleep before you're fed a quick breakfast and again herded out the back door through which you entered the hall. As you near the north end of the Bleakbridge, everyone (except the forlorn Dom) overhears a couple of men talking about a robbery at the Dancing Devil Gambling Hall last night; apparently some of the tiefling hostesses and a few accomplices made off with the tournament's grand prize. Two tieflings and three patrons were killed, but most folks were merely temporarily blinded by some flashy magic the robbers employed.
Laria, Rexus, and Jessibel (whose brand from the first Day of Wrath is still quite prominent on her forehead) are waiting there, eager to hear how the raid transpired. The bard informs the party that she'll be at her family's villa for the next three days before returning to Jarvis End for her lessons with the Opera House Society. She asks if there's anything (such as information gathering) she can do for the cause this week.
A dottari patrol visited shortly after dawn, saying that Davina's niece, Samantha Firini, was arrested on the streets of Yolubilis Harbor last night and is being held at the Warrens guard station in that district until a fine of 25 gp is paid.
Davina rushes into the Nest not long after getting to her house completely flustered. "There's a problem! A problem for my family anyway. A dottari patrol visited the Manor shortly after dawn. My niece Samantha Firini has been arrested on the streets of Yolubilis Harbor and is being held at the Warrens guard stationuntil a fine of 25 gp is paid."
"I'm heading there now to pay the fine. I wanted to let you know where I was going just in case something happens. I have no idea why she would be out and about during the night. My aunt is having fainting spells, and my mother is about to disown the poor girl."
She gives Jess a look that says this is how you keep your friends in the loop. "I'm glad it isn't you this time Jess. Though I think you could take care of yourself better than Samantha could."
Leora tries to hint at the answer, in case the tieflings decide to rat them out to the Dottari later. "I guess you've only been there once, Zach was the handsome guy who woke you up."
Nodding in recognition Falina said, "Oh, him." She said it almost like someone would have said "Yum" to a delectable treat. "I may have to thank him for his help properly," the ending of her statement, though innocently worded, was anything but given the inflection she put to it.
When she woke the next morning and heard the news of the Casino Falina realized they probably wouldn't hear from any of the tieflings again. If they were smart the would flee town and come back. Still, she was going to do as she said and wait for them, even if they didn't know exactly who they were meeting, to see if they might prove her wrong.
When Davina revealed what had happened Falina tried to remember who Samantha was and finally couldn't recall so she asked, "Have I met Samantha yet?"
"Of course my mother and aunt didn't her the actual name of my niece. The poor girl is going to be in so much trouble for staying out last night with your beau."
"This particular "niece" is more than likely Sabrina. I wonder where she's been all this time. Falina you haven't met her yet. She's Miss Jess' very best friend in the whole wide world, and has been missing for quite some time."
"Sabrina? You've found Sabrina??!! Want me to come along? Or do think it's some sort of trick or trap?"
"Just let me know what I can do to help," says T'chazzar sincerely to Davina. He closes his eyes briefly and a slight shudder runs through him, then he continues, "No matter how difficult."
The Warrens watch station is the largest of those in the northern half of the city . In addition to a large contingent of dottari, the Warrens features a stables for most of the city watch's horses and prisoner transport wagons.
Sabrina is released once the fine is paid. The former noblewoman is a shell of her former self: She's gaunt, has dark bags beneath her panicky eyes, is covered in swaths of lurid red body paint, and her fiery hair has been dyed the darkest black. Also, she's wearing a scandalous succubus costume--the very kind that Saul Porter promised his hostesses would be wearing at his Grand Opening Tournament! Although the young lady fills in those who bailed her out on the return trip to the Nest (after several glances over her shoulder to make sure the group isn't being followed), she makes a bigger presentation once everyone's gathered at the rebellion headquarters.
For the last several weeks after leaving the Nest in a huff, the teen’s been in a tense stand-off with an imp named Blosodriette, the invisible creature that caused a collapse and other chaos inside the Silver Ravens’ hideout weeks ago.
“She’s got some sort of connection to my family and wanted me to join forces with her,” Sabrina reports. “She says that piece of paper with the hidden page on it is a treasure map of some sort, and she offered to give it to me if I’d sign a document making us partners for life. I hesitated, of course, and that’s when Blosodriette started threatening to report the location of the Nest to the authorities if I didn’t do as she said. I didn’t fully believe that, because she had every opportunity to do that earlier but never did, and within an hour of making that threat she was back to being best friends with me. There’s something she’s not telling me, I’m sure of it.”
“Anyhow, she and I hid in an abandoned dormitory not far from Alabaster Academy for...I don’t know...weeks, I guess, friends one moment, her threatening to order a raid on the Nest the next--it was a strange stand-off. Then Blossie met that little creep named Saul Porter and told him everything and the whole dynamics changed. Blosodriette no longer pitched a partnership between us: now she wanted me to be her personal assistant or slave. I don’t know why they didn’t just kill me; I think Porter has some connection to my family.”
“I ended up a prisoner in Saul’s new gambling hall. Blosodriette remade me in her image, dyeing my hair, making me wear red body paint, and commanding me to wear this ridiculous outfit. She and Saul forced me serve as a waitress, always threatening to sic the dottari on the Nest, return me to my father, or both. I was trapped and things seemed hopeless.”
“Then last night, a group of tieflings, including some of the waitstaff, used magic to rob the tournament of its grand prize. During the chaos, I managed to slip away. I got as far as the Yolubilis docks before a Queensman patrol found me and took me in for breaking curfew. They made the connection that I worked at the Dancing Devil but bought my story that I just fled the place in a panic. Please--we’ve got to get everyone out of the Nest immediately! Now that I’ve slipped out of their grasp, Saul and Blosodriette likely won’t hesitate to make good on their threats!”
Laria is alarmed by Sabrina's revelation; Rexus has a thoughtful look on his face. While Laria bustles about muttering several variations on a "What shall I do?" theme, Rexus takes a deep breath and speaks up.
"As you all know by now, my mother, Porcia, was a member of a secret organization--the Sacred Order of Archivists. They kept a hidden headquarters at the other end of the city--inside or beneath a museum of oddities in Redroof called Hocum's Fantasmagorium. The museum's been closed to the public for...hmm, I'm guessing about two decades or so. The mithral key in the box my mother left with Laria allegedly opens many of the doors there."
"If my mother or father survived the fire on the Night of Ashes...well, it's just possible they hid out there, right? And the place might make a good temporary headquarters for the Silver Ravens as well...assuming the Sacred Order doesn't mind sharing their space, of course. Let me go fetch the key--I keep it upstairs."
While Rexus is gone, Laria addresses the Ravens and their team members who are present. "I hate to kick you folks out into the streets, but I don't think I have a choice at this point. If we can get rid of anything that's connected to the Ravens or the Bellflower Network...well, I might be able to explain away the statue of Calistria as a relic from before the Chelish Civil War and get out of this mess unscathed. And though I think young Rexus is thinking with his heart instead of his head about his parents still being alive...it's quite likely there are members of the Sacred Order of Archivists still hiding out in the Fantasmagorium. They'd make excellent allies...even if they don't let the Silver Ravens nest in their hideout. There's always the chambers beneath the Fair Fortune Livery...at least until you find a better base of operations."
After a night of rest at the Songbird Hall, one in which she did quite a bit to try and get Zach to let her "thank him properly" the Falina was relieved to make it back to the safety of the Nest. Unfortunately it seemed they weren't going to be staying long. The information that Sabrina gave them was distressing, and it royally pissed her off how Saul and this imp had tormented her. "That bastard wouldn't know a succubus if he saw one, nor would one let him get away with that kind of crap." She drew herself up haughtily and with palpable rage at the thought, "I think I may have to introduce him to one when I get more of my power back, or as close as he'll ever get to one." She smiled viciously, "I'll give him a kiss he'd never recover from if he lives that long."
As Rexus gave them his suggestion and went to get the key Falina looked to Laria and said, "You're right, we should get out of her as fast as we can. It shouldn't be long until they come if he's going to rat us out, and I've no doubt that he will. Is there a way we can get out of here without leaving by the streets? Maybe a way to use the sewers from here as an exit? We could make sure the trap door doesn't work when we go giving you a better chance of getting away with the statue there once they got through the floor."
Laria lets out a long sigh when Falina asks about using the sewers as an exit.
"Well, that's been done before, both by agents of the Bellflower Network and by you young Ravens when you raided the saltworks in Old Kintargo, but you'd need a boat...or a strong stomach if you opt to wade through the tunnels."
Meanwhile, Jessibel tries to reconnect with Sabrina, but there's friction between the frenemies; apparently Sabrina still blames Jessi (and perhaps Leora) for driving her out of the Nest in the first place. While Sabrina slips over to Davina's side--ready to again be a spymaster-in-training--Jessibel moves over to Dom for a whispered conversation. A bit later, the bard announces that she and Dom are going to look into a proper burial for Zea's remains and the pair leaves the Nest.
Leora offers to say some words for Zea in the privacy of the Nest.
"There is no cure for death, save to enjoy the interval. Zea was brave and did everything she could to make Kintargo a better place. To Zea!" Leora raises a mug of ale in a toast to their fallen friend, then pours it out on the floor.
"Yeesh. We were wondering what happened to that invisible critter, after we caught it lurking around the Nest. You can't make this stuff up. We looked all over for you, I'm sorry we couldn't do better." Leora checks Sabrina over and heals her if she's hurt from any of the awful stuff she's been through.
"That's a shame. I like staying here, it's hard to see a bunch of archivists being as fun and awesome as Laria. But that still sounds better than the Livery!" Not sure of where else to go, Leora begins packing her few belongings that she's bought since the Thrashing Badger had burned down.
"I think when we raided the saltworks, we borrowed a boat. We can see if we can get it again. The hard part is, we have to row it through the sewers to get it to the Nest, then to wherever we're going, and then back to the owner. Let's go down to the docks."
Davina puts her arm around the girl, and helps her to clean up. "Poor thing. You did well keeping them away from us for this long. I'd like to take a look at that paper she mentioned, but first we have much more pressing matters."
"Let's check out the Hocum's Fantasmagorium before we think about the Livery It's not in good shape. If the Fantasmagorium doesn't work out, I suggest we go to plan B. We can always use the Manor, but it will be difficult to explain things to my family."
"Let's grab everything and get out of here."
Dom gives Leora a weak smile and a stoic nod when the priestess offers to say some words on the departed Zea's behalf. "To Zea!" he and Jessibel echo in somber unison. The pair tells Leora that since they'll be near the Devil's Nursery when they pick up Zea's body from Songbird Hall, they'll try to track down Baelgar and inform him of her death.
When the Caydenite moves to Sabrina, she notices what appears to be an old puncture wound on the young woman's arm. Although Leora's words are honest and heartfelt, Sabrina recoils from Leora's touch.
"I'll bet you spent days and days looking for me!" the redhead snarls. "Ever minute you weren't cuddling up with Angus, that is! As soon as the words leave her mouth, Sabrina looks shocked that she said them, but instead of apologizing merely moves away from Leora to stand by her mentor's side .
She's much nicer to the aasimar woman, telling her that Saul Porter now possesses the document with the secret page on it. She also apologizes profusely for giving the dottari Davina's address and drawing her into the whole mess, but says she could think of no other move.
Kiri and the youngest Fushi sister, Treep, offer to accompany Falina and Leora to the docks; that way, the party can rent a second boat to double the speed they can transport people and goods out of the Nest. They have no encounters en route and are able to rent a pair of large rowboats.
The sewers are dark but quiet; there's no sign of anything dangerous. As your boats near the tunnels leading to the Nest, Treep can't hold out any longer; she begins singing softly in a raspy voice that echoes through the dank passage:
"Row, row, row your boat, gently through the sewers!
"Not smelly, not smelly, not smelly, not smelly--the water is so pure!
Kiri clucks in disapproval and comments, "The new Apprentice is even louder than the old one!"
Leora's prepared to snap back at Sabrina, but bites her tongue. She'd forgotten how much teenager drama had gone on in the group after Jessi and Sabrina weren't around as often. Her second thought is to jokingly blame Jessi for setting her up with Angus, but she figures Sabrina won't take that well either. She decides to give the girl some time to calm down instead and doesn't say anything further on it.
Davina gives the girl a light hug, "How did you know about Angus Sabrina? You were missing while the date happened." She'll keep the young woman busy packing up things while the others get the boats. "Are you going back to your parent's home? I am sure they are missing you terribly."
T'chazzar listens quietly and intently to the whole story, then says, "Hrm. No way to tell if the imp still has some connection to you, Sabrina." He thinks for a moment and shrugs. "Not much we can do about it, though."
He assists Dom in collecting contraband and preparing for the move.
Sabrina casts one last glare in Leora's direction before answering Davina's question. "She and Jessi snuck out on a double date with the Vashnarstill twins--Blosodriette overheard them whispering and told me about it. She played me...knew I couldn't stand being cooped up all day in this hole or the coffeehouse. I suppose, in hindsight, I may have overreacted a bit. I thought about returning home, but I don't really embrace the idea of entering into an infernal marriage contract and spending the rest of my life worshiping Asmodeus and birthing a brood of devil-worshipers."
Sabrina seems to notice T'chazzar for the first time when he addresses her. She glides in his direction. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Sabrina Sarini." The tall teen offers the drow paladin the back of her hand to kiss.
"I hope she's out of my hair now, but I doubt it," Sabrina comments. "Blossie can turn invisible--at will, I think--so she could be anywhere at any time. She can be a vindictive little b****, too--she stung me a few times with her tail just to let me know she could take me out any time she chooses."
The redhead suddenly seems to remember something. "She and that Saul guy are pretty tight. I'm not sure what his deal is. There was another woman named Alix working at the Dancing Devil who was scared to death of Saul...even told me once that he was supposed to be dead, whatever that means."
T'chazzar pauses to gently accept Sabrina's hand, bow, and brush it with his dry lips.
"T'chazzar. Good to finally meet you," says the drow. "I'm sorry that you had to go through those hardships. Hopefully we might have a chance to take care of the imp and its new... 'friend'."
"I'm afraid we're in a bit of a hurry to get out of here now," he says, "but I'm sure that one of our resident magicians can help get rid of that red dye if you like."
Davina used to the emotions of teenage girls gives Sabrina a hard look. "You ran away. We didn't know where you went. As far as Leora and Jess knew you left voluntarily, and were having a grand time with some pirate captain somewhere. It's not fair to her to be angry with a choice you made. I'm sorry this happened to you, but you did go on your own and not tell us where you went."
"We'll keep your presence quite. I don't blame you for wanting to stay away from home."
"We need to find out more information about Saul and this Alix. She might have information we need."
Sabrina scowls a bit at Davina's words but doesn't dare show her any sass. Eventually she nods in a sort of resigned agreement.
The aasimar's mention of a pirate stirs something in the redhead's memory: "Alix mentioned she'd known Saul for several years...even mentioned they'd worked together in Riddleport before moving here several years back."
"Hey--maybe if we move our HQ to the other end of the city--about as far from the Greens and my family as possible--I'll actually be able to go outside once in a while, right?"
"Maybe. Or we find some magic to disguise you," says T'chazzar.