I do not reveal my employers and, in fact, can't. Such is the magic of my clan. We are good at what we do because even in death we cannot betray. You would have been spared death had I caught you unaware. I am not an assassin...today.
Cedany focusses on the woman, trying to determine how honest she's being.
She can respect a certain professionalism.
The woman shifts about, clearly unhappy about these turn of events, Our failure is complete and we are employed on a job by job basis. I doubt my employer will want to re-use us. The game is over. Take my weapon as a trophy and let me live.
Cedany glances around to see how the others are feeling, she's inclined to let her go.
You still have failed to answer the primary question, woman. If your emp-loyer is not to re-hire you, and you acknowledge your own failings, then why would you not communicate the employer's identity so that you can be set free?
The woman frowns deeply and mutter in Tian.
I told you I can't. Magic. Curse. Call it what you will. I can no more tell you who hired me than I could tell you where to find the fallen god of humanity. It is beyond my power.
The woman sighs then a thought passes over her face. You probably know who my employer is, or will soon know if you found what I was set to retrieve; papers and items of information and value. Many are the schemers of the great city. My soon to be former employer dreams big and has money. I question their ability to execute. I will not deny you are formidable. This enterprise may be a mistake on their part.
"Thank you, you are welcome to a room at our Inn, if you seek refuge, or you may go your own way."
The ninja literally looks shocked at the warmth of the invitation, I...uhm...my thanks. I will have affairs to resolve in the face of this failure but I appreciate your... The woman seems to struggle with the a concept for a moment then finally finds her tongue,...hospitality.
Clicking her tongue absentmindedly, Seishan starts toward the door to the bar, then frowns slightly and pauses, thinking.
You've been down that road a hundred times, girl. Mightn't you be better off to put forth your best slipper?
She instead walks toward the inn entrance, and attempts to peek surreptitiously in the window, after first using the end of her shirt sleeve to wipe away a path of grime.
Looking in the inn door side of the building Sishan notes a warm and inviting front room complete with counter, bell, a younger woman with softer features working at a leger or book with a pen and an almost 7 foot tall oread with chainmail offering some insight to the clerk and then stepping through the transition to the bar side.
After quickly prestidigitizing the dust of the city off her clothes, Seishan pushes the door open and saunters confidently in. She hangs a worn grey cloak by the door and moves toward the young woman.
Good day, miss. Are the owners available? I have been led to believe that there might be an opportunity available to invest in this establishment, and I'd like to talk that over with someone. Would that be you?
With this last inquiry, she arches an eyebrow inquisitively.
Harrison would let the others know that the sword had been magically enhanced with a keen edge that allowed it to more easily cut through flesh and bone, and it was indeed worth a fair amount.
I have no further use for this woman. You may do what you wish with her. We have further duties to attend to.
Maeltheron steps away from the woman as he sheathes his Curveblade, and he leans against the wall with arms crossed awaiting the others.
Harrison's face would brighten as an idea dawns on him. He would move to loosen the bonds restricting the Tian woman's movements.
"Perhaps the loss of your current employer stands as the starting point for you to gain a new one for your clan."
At the release of her bonds the ninja stands slowly, rubbing her wrists probably more out of affected habit than anything else. As Harrison floats the notion she indeed has a quizzical look on her face.
You would want to employ us...even though we just failed to do what we were hired to do? That seems...strange.
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As Seishan approaches the desk the woman brightens and at the mention of owners her enthusiasm clearly deflates. Just an investment? No taxes then? The clerk shakes her head, her brown hair drawn tight in a bun that keeps her prodigious mane out of her face and waves her hand in the air before her as though clearing smoke or an unwanted smell. Never mind. Let me see what I can do. The woman rises from the desk, steps into the small transition that serves to bridge the inn and the tavern sections and simply yells Osk!
From within the bar the large oread observed but a few moments ago weaves back into the space. The woman moves to sit back at the counter and she simply gestures at Seishan as the stone skinned man offers no reaction for a moment...
Osk stands for a moment looking the newcomer up and down. The oread might cock an "eyebrow" but offers only a simple, gravely, Can I help you?
"As you said, we are a formidable group and you may already have information that we can use," Harrison would say with a grin. "And I take it that information gathering and general thuggery or not your only skill sets."
The woman offers a tight lipped smirk, Indeed not. I would need to talk it over with others in my group. But we might be able to reach an...arrangement. The Spirit Gallery yes?
"I'm glad we could come to an understanding," Harrison would say with a smile. "And yes, you can find me at the Spirit Gallery. Perhaps we might even be able to form a more beneficial relationship for both of our groups."
Cedany nods at Harrison, "Is there anything else we can salvage from here?"
Hoping for no trouble out of the stone man—after all, stone does not burn so easily—Seishan smiles demurely at him and shrugs her shoulders ever so slightly.
It has been said that this establishment is under new ownership. I am weary from years of travel......and have decided that a lot in a place such as this might be just the thing to cool my heels. I have some money saved up from my travels, and I wondered if you'd care for some extra financial backing? Also, I'm told I'm good with people, for whatever that's worth.
"Indeed I do," he would respond to Cedany.
Then, turning back to address the female ninja, he would continue on, "Am I to only know you as a beautiful woman? Or might there be a name of some sort?"
The ninja gestures to herself, Lin. For now that is all I can offer.
"A beautiful name for a gorgeous lady. However Lin, I do have one more question. Do you know the location of the proprietor of this fine establishment?" he would ask kindly.
Maeltheron thinks long and hard about his connections in the area, and now that he has a name, he tries to recall if he has heard of the Tian woman before.
Cedany stays with "Lin" while Harrison goes about examining the place. She'll check over her wounds mostly to look less like she's guarding her and more like she's trying to help.
The ninja offers a short shake of her head, We were not privy to that information, assuming my employer knows and I cannot confirm that. At the intent looking over by Cedany the woman is quiet but her cheeks flush obviously as the oracle looks her over.
Maeltheron puzzles over the name and the tactics and nothing comes to mind but her clan name is more likely what you would know, something she is clearly content to leave unknown for now.
"How can I contact you if we find that we have business for you?" Harrison would ask while tilting his head to the side inquisitively.
Your unusual response to these events warrants I confer with my clan. We will reach out to you if we have further interest....which I think it is safe to say, we will.
What is the name of your clan? I need to know if it conflicts with the underpinnings of organizations that I am a part of.
"I look foward to hearing from you again then," Harrison would say while offering a kind smile.
There is no conflict with any organizations in the city. We are small, for hire, and our contracts are very...precise. I will not reveal my clan until I have spoken to them. I am not in control and it would be rude of me to make our presence in the city any more known without express consent.
The woman moves to leave looking primarily at Mael to see if there is another attempt to stop her.
Osk looks the newcomer over slowly and scratches at his chin, While on the one hand I don't know we would ever turn away money you have to understand that we are a close group. Like a family even. While it is true that many of us help run the inn, it really belongs to Cedany. Who is out.
The brawler pauses for a moment to think, How did you come to know about us? We are not a quiet presence in the city, we know that already. But surely there are better places to invest your money. Bank houses. Establish business. Trade caravans. What brought you here to the Gallery?
Seishan smiles warmly. I understand what you mean, and I understand your concerns - I would be alarmed, in fact, if you didn't want to know more. I'm happy to make an introduction and tell you all about myself, and I'd love to hear more about you and your team as well. In order to save myself breath, though, perhaps I should wait until Cedany returns?
She stands, approaching the Oread with her hand extended for a shake. For now, I am Seishan D'Tsarraas A-Magnimari bil-Ruriki, also called Seishan Flamehair, for obvious reasons, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir.
As their new acquantaince makes to leave, Harrison would ask simply. "Should I expect you, or another when your clan chooses to reach back out to us? How will I recognize them for who they are, if it is not you?"
Osk nods at the woman and seems to appreciate the detail, The name Rurik seems familiar to me...was he an adventurer or explorer?
Osk leads Seishan into the main bar gesturing at a table and motioning for someone to come take your order as he invites you to sit.
The ninja merely smirks at the halfling as she leaves, You will know.
With the soft closing of the door the lot of you are left standing in the gnome's shop.
As Cedany had suggested, Harrison will finish searching the place over for any further signs of who might have taken the gnome proprietor, and anything else of value.
Maeltheron will do the same.
The storefront seems well worked through save for the safe which stands as the last real "mystery" of the building. Nothing Harrison has seen to this moment has suggested a way to open the safe but his research of hte various material in his possession has been cursory. Tirkala also noted a pattern in the writings before she went silent but would need more time/opportunity to review the docs before making heads or tails of what she noticed.
Mael approaches the safe, and he attempts to lift a corner, testing its weight.
The safe is "in" the floor, you would need to pry the floor up around it and then it would probably be fairly heavy. You don't know how deep it is at first glance. Also remember that it is enchanted, best guess from the part is it has to do with opening but "moving" it could have unforeseen consequences as well.
Does anyone have the capabilities to pick this thing, or should I consult with my associates to have someone come here to work the lock?
Tirkala offers a flustered shrug and jerks a thumb at Lucky, I think our man here tried and failed at that already. She lets out her typical laugh in situations like this.
"Without the combination, it will be a long and ardous task to open that safe. We have plenty of documents and clues that might lead us to the whereabout of the gnome proprietor we have been taksed with finding, and that might give us an idea of what said combinatin may be. So I would suggest we take some time to look over them more thoroughly to see what we can find," Harrison would offer up.
Ok, then, Lucky. Do you need to look at them here, or can we take them back to The Gallery? Also, are you certain that taking your time at the task will not yield a result? I have seen others proficient at such tasks succeed simply by being very meticulous.
"We can head back to the Gallery for this portion of our work and I am sure. We do not have the proper tools for opening a safe of this kind. It would require tools made of a harder substance like adamantine. Otherwise, it would be a long and ardous task of trying every possible combination."
Very good, then, let us all return, shall we?
Mael makes his way to the door.
"Agreed" Cedany will accompany the others back to the Gallery.
"Indeed, I see no further use in staying here at this point in time," Harrison would reply while moving to follow.