"This is the reliable source?" Talia responds skeptically, looking at the man with a distasteful look on her face, the Vernai's whispers perfectly clear to her. Striding forward, she clicks her fingers in front of the mans nose, attempting to get his attention.
"Oi, why don't you tell us what the Mistress knows, it might be nice sharing that information around, especially if its important you know" she remarks bluntly, not really wanting to coddle the man.
After adjusting her gear, Kilarra heads off down the hallway after the elven guards and her new comrades. She keeps an eye open as we go--both to notice ways in and out of the building, and for valuable goods.
Kilarra smirks at the assembled guards, giving one a wink if they make eye contact with her.
Kilarra squints into the darkness as she eyes the cell and its occupant. She strains to hear his words.
At hearing Talia demand the prisoner tell her more about the Mistress, Kilarra thinks back to her time with Bastien. Does she recall any information about a mistress, or the Mistress?
Kilarra waits to hear if the prisoner answers.
The muttering just beyond his ability to comprehend, Uruelleth folds his arms across his chest and waits to see how the Vernai responds to Talia.
Vorya is impatient to head off. He shakes his head as they descend into the dungeon. The ex-assassin doubts they will find anything new out here, anything of import would have surely been found by the assembled monarchs and all the considerable resources they could bring to bear?
He hears mumbling but it is too low for him to pick up. Shrugging he scans the cell and the person with Detect magic, more for something to do then expecting anything.
Talivar raises an eyebrow when Talia speaks, he had no idea what she was going on about. Still he was hardly going to interfere, she'd obviously noticed something he hadn't.
Once the man answered, assuming he did of course, Talivar had a question of his own, "I have a hypothetical question for you. Suppose you where the head of some other Assassin's guild, like the one in Daggermark. Lets say you're feeling ambitious... You want to infiltrate and subsume the Red Mantis. How would you do it?"
Talivar rather doubted the man would answer that, but if he did...
Kilarra scoffs aloud at Talivar's hypothetical question. She smirks in amusement.
"This is the reliable source?" Talia responds skeptically, looking at the man with a distasteful look on her face, the Vernai's whispers perfectly clear to her. Striding forward, she clicks her fingers in front of the mans nose, attempting to get his attention.
"Oi, why don't you tell us what the Mistress knows, it might be nice sharing that information around, especially if its important you know" she remarks bluntly, not really wanting to coddle the man.
"Wait, what 'Mistress?' Is this guy just mumbling about cheating on his wife or something?"
Zeldana strides so that she's a few steps behind Talia.
"You know, I can always pull the same trick that I did with Siadril. Might make talking to Mr. Mumbly here a little more productive."
While she waits for an answer from the Shaman, she mumbles a few words of her own:
"魔術，向我揭示自己。"
The guards just shrug when Talia questions the Vernai’s reliability.
When Talia mentions the Mistress, the Vernai looks at you for the first time. He seems to consider Talia’s words for a moment before shaking his head and saying, “The Mistress? She knows that I know. I know her secret.”
The man pauses for a moment to hit himself in the head with his hand. “If only I could remember. I know the Mistress knows that I know. And I do know. But what? If only I knew....”
Lain goes back to looking at the ground and mumbling to himself incoherently.
One of the guards near the cell says, “That sort of stuff is all he ever says. It was a minor miracle that the monarchs got what they did out of him. If you ask me, he should be in an asylum, not a cell.”
Kilarra doesn’t recall any information about a mistress or the Mistress.
Vorya and Zeldana both detect magic on the guards and magic users. Their weapons and armor appear to be magical and they may have other magical items on their persons. The prison cell also seems to have some magic cast on it. There’s nothing magical on the prisoner.
Vernai Lain looks up again at Talivar’s question. He’s silent for a moment before beginning to laugh. Not a quiet or subtle laugh, but a guffaw. Lain clutches his chest as he continues to laugh uncontrollably. By the time he finally stops, he’s in tears.
“Knowing what I know,” he scrunches up his face for a moment before continuing, “Knowing what I know, I would make sure to never cross the Red Mantis, much less try to infiltrate or subsume them. I guess I might do it if I had a death wish. But there are less painful ways to kill oneself.”
---
When Lain starts laughing loudly, Kilarra's smirk widens. By the end of his laughter, she's laughing too.
After Lain's pronouncement she smiles at him. "I hear you, hon, but we're gonna go try and kill them anyway. And since they want you dead, and we want them dead, why not throw us a helpful hint or two? You've got nothing to lose. It's us who're in for a painful death." Her smile by now is fierce and bordering on crazed. If he looks at her she winks at him.
Vorya shurgs at Lain's last words. 'Maybe. But you probably won't find out about them here. These monarchs seem rather put out with your entire organization, and are looking a bit vengeful. If you don't help us...well, they hired us to kill your god. You think they will care about putting your through endless torment? Maybe helping us out would be the smart move, you know?"
Taliver laughed heartily with Lain, "Mad isn't it?! Certifiably insane!" He slapped his sides and laughed some more before sighing. He then soberly added, "That's why it'll work, they're not expecting it. I mean just think, they're strutting around Golorion like they own the place. I'm sure they've got good security, the best, so good they've inevitably become complacent. Every so often spies or wannabies will try to infiltrate them, no doubt they're discovered right away and go on to die horribly. But when did they last face a determined cell with deep pockets and powerful backers? No time recently I'm betting."
Pointing at the man, Talivar tuts before saying, "You know what your problem is Lane? You lack ambition. My wife always told me Talivar you've got to have ambition, you've got to believe in the impossible or you'll never get anywhere." Thoughtfully he added, "Got her killed of course, but she was right. If you truly believe and are willing to die for it, you can do anything."
Not really sure what he could add at this point, Uruelleth continues to glare at the Vernai while listening intently to his mad ravings. Unfortunately, some of his new companions sounded equally insane. He arches an eyebrow at Talivar in particular after he laughs along with Lain.
Lain seems to study Kilarra for a few moments after she tries to persuade him to give advice. Then he says, “You were a promising recruit. I’m sorry Bastien treated you as he did. You could have accomplished much and risen very far.
The Vernai shakes his head before looking back at Kilarra with an unfocused gaze. “Don’t think for a second that I’m safe from the Red Mantis because I’m in this prison cell. I could be dead at a moment’s notice if the Mistress willed it so. You’re not exactly offering me much incentive to help you.”
Lain looks over at Vorya and says, “God or no god, you’re even more insane than you probably think I am if you seriously believe you can kill Achaekek. One does not have to be a god to be impossible to kill. Not even the Mistress would dare attempt such a thing.”
After Talivar speaks, the Vernai just shakes his head. “Regardless of what you lost, you obviously don’t know much about the Red Mantis. They don’t grow complacent. They… we… view what we do as an act of worship. Achaekek expects total devotion, and the Red Mantis give it without hesitation. You are truly in over your head.
“And you thinking I lack ambition would be hilarious if your last inquiry hadn’t been so funny. How do you think I became a Vernai if I lack ambition? It’s a very rare rank for a man to attain.
“And if you truly believe and are willing to die for it, then you should know that ‘anything’ isn’t what you can do. Die is what you can and will do if you continue on this stupid quest of yours to avenge your wife and kill Achaekek.”
Kilarra smiles at Lain. "Oh, I plan on having a heart to heart with dear old Bastien. His heart, my blade. Anyone in the group you want me to try and kill for you before I get done in? I take requests."
"Incentive? A last shot at your old pals isn't enough for you? How about my eternal thanks? A quick death?" She chuckles. "Oh, hon, what do you want?"
Talivar shrugs, "If you truly had ambition Lain you would have escaped before now, or died trying." He looks him in the eye and adds without rancor, "I fully expect to die Lain, I've made my peace with that. You on the other hand, something tells me you're not quite ready. Bit of a shame really I hear you're not deemed as useful anymore, that's why they let us lot near you, nothing to loose! They haven't told us anything but I notice on the way over they've built themselves a nice big scaffold. Not entirely sure I approve, it's one of those without a drop, bad way to go." Rather cheerily, Talivar finishes with, "Goodbye Lain, unless you have something useful to say I imagine you'll get to meet that god of yours pretty soon! I wonder if he'll be pleased to see you..."
Talia concentrates, figuring that sooner or later, Zeldana would like to attempt the trick she had attempted earlier, and decided to at least rig the odds in her favor when she eventually tried. Drawing on her arcane strength, she quickly triggers Evil Eye and Misfortune, chanting under her breath to keep the debuffs active.
Vorya never cared much for interrogation. He had a feeling Lain here was either insane or too strong-willed to be concerned. Either way any information they got would probably do more harm then good.
More telling then the reactions of the Red Mantis was his new fellow allies. They seemed little saner then the raving prisoner. Talivar in particular seemed a bit touched...
When Kilarra asks if Lain has anyone he wants her to kill for him, he actually smiles. He seems to find her efforts amusing.
He says, “As long as you and everyone else here acknowledges that you’re just as crazy as me, I guess it can’t hurt to put in a request. Kill the mistress. I don’t know why, exactly. Or even remember her name. But there’s only one. And you would be doing yourselves and me a favor by doing so. And if you actually plan on getting to Achaekek, you’ll have to go through her first.”
The Vernai's expression darkens at Talivar’s words. He replies, “I don’t fear death. I was conditioned long ago not to care. In fact, it would be something of a relief.
“That said, there may be some truth to your words. There have probably been a couple times when I could have slit a guard’s throat and made a break for it.”
The guards shift uncomfortably at Lain’s words. “Not that I actually plan to. Just saying that I could,” he says, trying to sound reassuring.
“Whether I live or die, I know I’m already condemned to a horrible afterlife. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to delay that a bit. If you’re going to kill Achaekek, you’ll have to go through the Red Mantis. That means that you’re going to be heading to Mediogalti Island. The only port on the island is Ilizmagorti. That city, along with the rest of the island, belong to the Red Mantis. Even those businesses and homes which aren’t being used by the Red Mantis are still considered Red Mantis property. There isn’t such a thing as privacy in that city.
“There are only two classes of people in the city: citizens and visitors. The Blood Watch won’t bat an eye if a visitor gets a knife in the back, so make sure you can trust those you take with you. I wish I could suggest a place you could stay, but I’ve been gone too long. They could have easily infiltrated new businesses or started ignoring others since I left.”
Vernai Lain furrows his brow and rubs his hands on his temples. He shakes his head and utters a low growl. “I wish I could give you specific names and places, but nothing comes to mind. Avoid the mayor. I know that much. I don’t know who or what he is, but you don’t want him to know you’re there and you definitely don’t want to cross him.”
Kilarra smiles at Lain. "Consider it done. Thanks, hon."
Uruelleth rubs his chin as he considers the Vernai's words. He wasn't satisfied about the answer regarding Achaekek. The information about the island stronghold of the Mantis was useful, and clearly they would be tested when trying to navigate a city owned wholly by the Red Mantis.
"We were told that you have some idea about how to kill Achaekek, or at least knowledge that it can be done. What else do you know about the Red Mantis's god?"
Lain focuses on Uruelleth for the first time at the elf’s question. The Vernai seems to study Uruelleth for a moment before saying, “You look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere before?”
After shaking his head at the stray thought, Lain says, “If I knew… or remembered… how to kill him, I would tell you. I believe it is possible, though.
“As for what I do know about him, I know he is gargantuan. Larger than you could possibly imagine. I… I glimpsed one of his legs once. It was larger than the largest building in Iadara. You can’t possibly imagine what you are facing. He doesn’t even have to lay a claw on you. His very presence will unmake you. Even though I was still in Achaekek’s good graces, it was all I could do to keep from fleeing in terror upon seeing that ounce of his being and power.”
The Vernai sighs, then says, “But I know you’re going to try to kill him no matter what I say. You have far to go and much power to gain if you want even the smallest chance of besting him.”
He glances over at Talivar and says, “If you think about it, put in a good word for me with the monarchs. I’ve decided I want to at least live long enough to know whether you all succeed or die horribly.”
The Vernai has no more advice to offer and simply nods goodbye as the guards escort you out of the prison and back to the fresh air of the Fierani Forest.
One of the guards says, “Queen Telandia asked us to tell you to make yourselves at home in Iadara. You’re not likely to have much in the way of comfort when you leave here, so make the most of it while you can. The Quintumvirate expects you back at the palace at dawn tomorrow.”
The guards depart and leave you all on your own.
Kilarra smiles widely at her new 'companions.'
"Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got a bar to find and coin to burn! See ya'! "
Kilarra turns and struts off, finally on her own in the grand elf cit for the first time.
---
She greets the people she comes across cheerily, resisting the urge to pilfer and con her way into their pockets.
"Where do people go for fun around here?" she asks some of them.
"Is there a bar in this city?"
She also enquires as to the location of a gambling den, inn or other house of vice.
As soon as she passes a market of some kind she spends her three grand as noted in the discussion.
Uruelleth's eyes narrow at the captive, not knowing any way he could recognize him; he had only just recently stopped being startled by his own reflection. Thankfully, the Vernai continued on and he was relieved from having to respond to that question.
The gold was welcome, yet not a sufficient amount to truly upgrade his weapon or armor. Still, he was appreciative of the belt which increased his strength. His shopping was brought to an abbreviated end when he found a swarmbane clasp that cost the entirety of his allotment of gold. Still, he had seen mighty warriors brought down by swarms of stinging and biting insects in Belkzen, swinging their swords helplessly against the teeming mass. He could only assume that the jungles would have worse insects, and any item that would prevent that fate would be worth its cost.
Later, he goes to spend his remaining gold on strong drinks in the roughest establishment he can find in Iadara.
When Kilarra finally finds a place to drink she eyes the place, orders the strongest drink on the menu and downs it in one shot, then orders another.
Kilarra struts over to their table. "Can I join you?" she asks. She pulls up a chair and sits with them without really waiting for an answer. "I'm Kilarra, and you are?" She gives everyone a hearty handshake and makes pleasant conversation with them for a while, resisting the urge to pick their pockets.
Once everyone's had a drink or two Kilarra pulls out her deck of cards and urges them to play a hand or two--for coin. "Come on, it'll be fun! Besides, I'm drunk! You're bound to win!" she laughs drunkenly.
---
By the time Uruelleth strolls in, Kilarra's drunk, and has either earned or lost some coins to a group of patrons. She's sitting at the bar, drinking the strongest thing she can order.
"Ruel!" she exclaims when she sees him. "Join me! Drink some of this sh**. It's weak, but it gets the job done." then to Ruel she whispers loudly "They don't carry strong enough liquor here."
Some of the patrons agree to gamble with Kilarra. As most of them are elves, they are a bit suspicious of her as a human.
Despite their suspicions, they are utterly incompetent when it comes to identifying Kilarra's tells or knowing when she's lying. In addition to winning easily against the patrons, Kilarra wins even more by cheating.
Ruel smiles with genuine pleasure when he sees Kilarra at the tavern, glad that he'd pegged her correctly as the closest thing to a kindred spirit in their group. He takes her cup and downs it, agreeing in her assessment.
He turns to the barkeep, his hand resting on the pommel of his orcish blade. "Mae arnom angen eich ysbryd cryfaf, nid y dŵr hwn. Rwy'n dod o Belkzen, ac rwy'n cael ei ddefnyddio i wisgi orc!" He says in Elven, getting a better response from the bartender.
Dropping a couple coins in exchange for the dusty bottles from the cellar, he passes one to Kilarra. "Here. This should light the fire in your gullet."
We need your strongest spirits, not this water. I'm from Belkzen, and I'm used to orc whisky!
Vorya finds the small shrine to Shelyn, with difficulty. The elves probably admired art and beauty enough, but they had their own gods.
The old, rough assassin made an odd figure, he was sure, kneeling amid the glittering adornments of the shrine, a black crow among parrots. Still, it gave him some peace and tranquility. There would be little time for this during the hunt.
After he wonders what his new 'friends' are up to. Betting they found a low dive, he looks for a tumbledown, rough bar, not that the elves go in for such things.
Kilarra smiles happily as Ruel scores them some good booze. "My hero!" she announces, cracking open the bottle and raising it to Ruel's. "Cheers!"
Toast completed, Kilarra takes a big swig right from the bottle. "Whoo!" Kilarra exclaims. "Da**, that's good! Never mind my gullet, this baby'll light a fire everywhere," she comments crudely. "Mmm, mmm!"
"You've got good taste, hon."
---
Vorya glances into the smoky dive and instantly sees Kilarra. Without much surprise he notes she is cheating at cards. He sighs inwardly. It wasn't the worst of sins, but he did make a note to guard his own purse.
Then, with a smile, he decides to perhaps teach her a lesson. Outside, Vorya channels his inner power and vanishes from sight. Invisible he slips into the tavern and hurries to the woman.
He stands right behind her and mutters in her ear, in his raspy voice,
"This is your conscience, Kilarra. You should return the money."
Aaaah! **** **** ******! Sneaky old bugger!
Despite the surprise of Vorya suddenly breathing on her neck and whispering in her ear, Kilarra tries not to startle.
"I bet you try that on all the girls," she says aloud, disguising the comment as a remark to one of the poor suckers she's playing cards with. She whispers under her breath at Vorya, "Nice try, but my conscience was the first thing I killed."
With that ending to her game, Kilarra refrains from further cheating (which is practically giving them money...), quickly wraps up her hand and scoops her winnings into her coin purse.
After bidding the elves farewell she wanders over to the bar. "You owe me a drink," she tells Vorya, expecting him to still be lurking around her. "I could've won a few more rounds."
Once she has another drink in hand (paying herself if she has to) she teases Vorya. "So that's handy. Is that how you get your rocks off, old man? Sneaking up on poor, innocent, da**ed fine women?"
Vorya, who tried to wink back into view behind some tables (And not cause a stir), grunts.
"Don't flatter yourself. I am an acylote of Shelyn, remember. I spend all my days surrounded by beauty, including that of the female form."
The ex-assassin shrugs, 'Hoodwinking half-drunk people is hardly worthy. You need to find better hobbies for your talents."
Kilarra scoffs. "Sure, sure. I bet you get up to all kinds of shenanigans," Kilarra teases. She regrettably pays for her own drink.
"I do have a new hobby. Killing people, remember? You. Me. Dead stuff. It'll be great." Kilarra remarks dryly, taking a swig of her fruity sparkling wine. "Really?!" she remarks to the bartender. "THIS is the strong stuff?" She sighs deeply.
"Care for some fruit juice, old man?" she asks, offering to buy him a drink with her totally legitimate gains.
Talivar chuckles at Lain's request, it was either that or cry and he was damned if he'd do that in front of one such as him, "I can but ask... No doubt news of my nigh-inevitable demise will enlighten your day."
Outside rather soberly Talivar suggests, "Well I think we'd better prepare for the worst. We're going behind enemy lines and lets face it we're going to get hurt in mind and body. I'm planning to buy some curative wands and maybe a few other bits to deal with that. If some of us pool together we might even be able to deal with magical darkness and maybe even a small bag of holding to put everything in."
Later he planned to get real cosy with a bottle of wine or two. But first there was work to be done.
Vorya shakes his head, 'Never drink on the job. Makes my hands shake." He holds up one battered hand, covered with faded scars and burns. It is rock solid, unwavering.
Inside he grabs an empty glass and cats Create Water and sips the crystal clear liquid.
"I find a clear mind and steady hands helps in life. Everything from killing to cheating at cards." He raises an eyebrow at Kilarra.
Uruelleth takes a long draught of his bottle and relishes the burning line it creates down his throat. He regards the label. "Hobgoblin fire-grog. Nice. I'm not surprised they don't list this on the menu." He takes another long pull while noting Kilarra's appreciation for the booze, and how she phrased her comment about the drink lighting a fire.
Ruel meets her gaze with a steady one of his own. "A woman who can drink is not one to be trifled with," he says admiringly, reciting an old Belkzen aphorism. "You have a strength about you."
He signals the bartender for another round.
---
@ Vorya
Kilarra scoffs. "Why am I not surprised?" She chuckles dryly to herself. "Besides, I'm off duty. This is my last night a free woman." After a moment she sighs.
"I spent the last six years sober, the last week being hounded by soldiers and interrogators, and tomorrow we ship off for an island of religious psycho-assassins. Tonight? Tonight I'm getting sh**-faced and I'm getting laid. In that order." She downs another fruity glass of wine. "You're welcome to drink all the water you want, hell, you're even welcome to volunteer, but by the end of the night? I'm not gonna be a pretty sight, hon. Not by a long shot."
Kilarra orders another refill.
---
@ Uruelleth
Kilarra laughs and leans in to Uruelleth. "They don't list it on the menu cause elves have horrible taste in liquor," she whispers conspiratorially. "Present company excluded, of course." She leans back and takes another sip of her booze, right from the bottle.
Kilarra raises an appraising eyebrow at Uruelleth. "That' the nicest thing anyone's said to me in years." She smirks. "In my experience sweet talkers are trouble."
Kilarra takes another big swig of liquor right from the bottle. "I'll give you fair warning, Ruel, since we're going to be comrades and all. I have every intention of spending my night getting completely hammered and getting laid." She smiles wickedly. "Care to join me?"
Vorya chuckles at Kilarra's words, but not with derision. It was not that long ago he often treated himself the same way, although he never drank on a mission.
Sipping his water he says seriously, "None of us are free." His eyes never quit scanning the crowd. Even here, there could be danger.
"Well, I will give you that. Few chances to find a worthy lover in the jungle."
His eyes fix on Uruelleth, "You know, I have never been to the Hold of Belkzen. But there are few elves from there, if I recall correctly. You must have an interesting history."
Kilarra smirks at Vorya's nosiness. "Yes, do tell Ruel."
Then Kilarra smiles and raises her bottle of booze in another toast. "To new friendships."
Then she makes the horrible decision to have more of this nasty liquor, and waits to hear Ruel's answer to Vorya's prodding.
Uruelleth pushes his bottle from one hand to the other, trying to stave off the drunkenness that is looming close. He leans back in his chair, looking off into the distance.
"Elves lend their bows to the defense of Lastwall, no doubt. Fewer actually venture deep into the Hold. But it's not just orcs and orcs and orcs. There's towns, and holds, and redoubts. Small communities that hold out against the warbands." He stares into his drink, lost for a moment in memory.
He looks up, blinking at his surroundings. "My history is a story for later. Just know that it involved a lot of fighting, and quite a bit of death," he says enigmatically.
Kilarra looks at Vorya very seriously in her drunken state. "Satisfied?" she asks.
"Everyone's got sh**," she mutters drunkenly. "Don't all gotta drag it up. Mine is staying buried."
---
Kilarra continues drinking until she's totally hammered when she finally announces "I am drunk! Onto phase two!"
She puts a hand on Voryas shoulder. "Goodnight, old man."
"You Still coming, Ruel?" she asks. She seems to suddenly realize something, and then bursts out laughing. "Whoah, wait for me!" She jokes.
Kilarra stumbles out of the bar and either back to her room, his room, or the nearest inn if she's not sure if she'll make it all that way, or has forgotten how to get there. She laughs, jokes or throws herself all over Ruel the whole walk there.
Kilarra proceeds to seduce Ruel and enjoy a night of debauchery.
While Kilarra and Uruelleth both become thoroughly intoxicated, both of them manage to avoid passing out. As such, they are able to indulge in their night of debauchery without interruption.
While several of the others head off immediately to sample the local cuisine, Thalia prefers to return to her room. It wasn't as if she was opposed to letting her hair down, just that she had a tendency to get a little introverted. Besides, she considered it of equal importance to instead cast her divination's in an attempt to prepare for the journey ahead. She always preferred maximizing her knowledge if at all possible to ensure best laid plans were kept.