"I don't have any use for heroes. Or for your goddess. Neither have ever done me any good." Atherton says, his dislike of what Istas said clear on his face.
He follows Calandra into the as of yet unexplored room, trying to stay grounded in the present and not let himself be swept away into a sea of memories and regret.
Calandra swears under her breath as Atherton notices her head for the other room and follows her. Her expression one of mild irritation at the fact she wouldn't have a chance to loot what was potentially Lamm's bedchambers before the others stepped in before she quickly adopts a more neutral look.
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The room Calandra and Atherton enter is foul smelling, and seems to be a combination of bedroom and study. A wooden bed with a mattress, seemingly as old as it's owner, stands against the eastern wall, while a round table, filled with dirty plates, bread crusts, stained goblets, fruit rinds and scuttling cockroaches sits nearby. At the foot of the bed stands a strong footlocker, wit a slightly rusty lock keeping it shut. A sagging dresser, filled with moth eaten cloths is in one corner, with what appears to be a hat box surrounded by a small cloud of flies sitting atop it.
Contents:
1 x Jade inlaid narrow teak cigar case;
1 x 2lb Gold Ingot bearing a Cheliax coat of arms.
1 x Miniature gold crown
1 x fist-sized scrimshaw carving of a Kraken with garnets for eyes
1 x Silver ring, bearing the inscription "For Emmah - the light of my nights"
1 x highly realistic, and highly scandless ivory figurine of two entwinned succubi
1 x shuriken
1 x adamantine arrow head
1 x abalone-shell, holy symbol of Shelyn
1 x tiny glass tube containing some type of oil.
1 x obsidian wand
1 x crystalline vial containing a different type of oil.
1 x bejewelled broach with a broken clasp.
The broach looks valuable to even the untrained eye, it depicts a pseudodragon and an imp, entwinned in a yin-yang pattern, with an amythist and an emerald for the eyes of each.
This is property of the Queen.
Calandra:
As you wander around the room, you put your hand on a small wooden box, dented and worn from age, it falls below Atherton's notice, but you are drawn to it.
Atherton looks around the room, carefully surveying it for hidden threats before going over to the chest and kneeling before it. He retrieves his lockpicks from a pocket and goes to work on the footlocker's lock. 'What have we here? The gold at the end of the rainbow?'.
After a long while of careful work he opens the locker and looks inside. He doesn't recognize everyhting, but he recognizes enough of it to know that he's found a small fortune. 'I wonder how much I can get before they spot me...'
Nevyn:
Calandra moves over to Atherton's side with a slight smile as she becomes certain he's thinking something similar to her. "I reckon we can get most of it stashed about our person before they're done searching Lamm's body and the other room" She whispers lightly.
Calandra moves over to Atherton's side with a slight smile as she becomes certain he's thinking something similar to her. "I reckon we can get most of it stashed about our person before they're done searching Lamm's body and the other room" She whispers lightly.
Having followed Calandra and Atherton into the next room...to look for any more captive orphans...Istas comes up behind them both.
"The spoils of war?" she inquires in a soft enough voice to elicit a small jump from the two rogues. "Ill-begotten gains," she states, putting her hands on their shoulders as she looks over the treasures, "First by Lamm. And now by you?"
She moves past them, continuing to search the rest of the room in case someone might be tied up or tortured and hidden away. "It's better to do something different with those baubles," she calls out, making them wonder if the Shoanti priestess has eyes in the back of her head, "Return them to their rightful owners, if possible. Donate some to a temple dedicated to caring for Korvosans instead of preying upon them as Lamm did. And by doing so, Pharasma will bless you so you can claim the rest as your own."
Finding no one else, Istas turns and regards them with a stoic expression. "But if you pocket all those things, with no more care for others than Lamm himself," she tells them, "You will only replace him...taking up the same path that led him to this fated end."
"Do the right thing," she encourages, "Don't tempt fate and risk Pharasma's curse as well."
With that, Istas crosses back into the other room, satisfied that she may have sown at least a tiny seed of doubt in their minds. While she waits, the priestess keeps an eye on the alligator pit to ensure Lamm's pet doesn't return before they can leave. And she offers up a small prayer to Pharasma, thanking her for the opportunity play a role in the fates of those whose lives she intersects.
Calandra tenses in irritation at the priestess' words, her eyes ablaze with anger for a moment and her fists clenched. Wondering if the other woman had been listening at all when she'd explained that she lived the life she did to support her sisters. Grumbling a little her hands find the obsidian wand and with no attempt to even be vaguely subtle she pockets it, clearly not in a good mood.
As Malik finds nothing around the neck of the dead crimelord, he takes the hand crossbow from the body. Then he goes to the room where Atherton, Calandra and Istas had gone.
"Has someone found an amulet like this one in here? It would mean very much to me. I'd help to identify any of the items we found... and keep my mouth about it."
Malik shows the amulet he had taken from Yargin to the others.
Looking up at at the wizard Calandra gives a sad smile and shakes her head. "Sorry hun, no... Maybe somewhere upstairs?" She suggests "If not it may have been fenced and you'll need to try to let it go"
Calandra moves over to Atherton's side with a slight smile as she becomes certain he's thinking something similar to her. "I reckon we can get most of it stashed about our person before they're done searching Lamm's body and the other room" She whispers lightly.
Atherton looks up quickly and then smiles slightly at Calandra "I thought you were alright. Come on, the ingot is going to be a b!@&# to hide. Can you..."
Having followed Calandra and Atherton into the next room...to look for any more captive orphans...Istas comes up behind them both.
"The spoils of war?" she inquires in a soft enough voice to elicit a small jump from the two rogues. "Ill-begotten gains," she states, putting her hands on their shoulders as she looks over the treasures, "First by Lamm. And now by you?"
She moves past them, continuing to search the rest of the room in case someone might be tied up or tortured and hidden away. "It's better to do something different with those baubles," she calls out, making them wonder if the Shoanti priestess has eyes in the back of her head, "Return them to their rightful owners, if possible. Donate some to a temple dedicated to caring for Korvosans instead of preying upon them as Lamm did. And by doing so, Pharasma will bless you so you can claim the rest as your own."
Atherton starts and turns, his hand gripping the dagger at his waist. He relaxes a little when he sees Istas and says "See, here's what you don't understand. They're rightfully ours now. We killed Lamm, we got our revenge and his spoils are now ours. You may get to live for free in some nice temple, but me? I've got to look after myself first, 'cause no one else will. If I donated the coin from this loot, than I'd be starving in a gutter by the end of the week.". He pockets the cigar case and then picks up the footlocker.
To Calandra he says "I know a guy. He'll give me good coin for some of this. 50-50, minus a small handling fee. Or did you want a share Istas? Enough for a dose of Shiver perhaps?"Finding no one else, Istas turns and regards them with a stoic expression. "But if you pocket all those things, with no more care for others than Lamm himself," she tells them, "You will only replace him...taking up the same path that led him to this fated end."
"You know? You've give me a lot to think about. Being a crimelord might not be all that bad. Get out of my way, I'm selling these and the coin sure as hell isn't going to a temple.".
"Do the right thing," she encourages, "Don't tempt fate and risk Pharasma's curse as well."
"I don't believe in fate." Atherton mutters, walking out of the room with Lamm's footlocker.
As he passes Lamm's body, he looks down and says "Shame we killed the gator. I wouldn't have minded feedng you to it feet first."
Calandra looks thoughtful at Atherton's words. "I know some people too, I suggest we put our heads together to work out rough values so we how much we're asking for it all" She remarks easily with a faint smile "Oh and there's of course a chance that there's sentimental value to some of it, I can keep an ear out for rewards for some of it. Sometimes people will offer rewards far nicer than the actual worth of the 'missing' item." She remarks with a grin, almost fondly remembering starting out and taking things only to receive the reward for being an upstanding citizen and returning them. Of course for the mostpart that didn't give enough money to feed four mouths but it felt a little better than outright theft, at least until her morals had slid back a little.
Calandra looks thoughtful at Atherton's words. "I know some people too, I suggest we put our heads together to work out rough values so we how much we're asking for it all" She remarks easily with a faint smile "Oh and there's of course a chance that there's sentimental value to some of it, I can keep an ear out for rewards for some of it. Sometimes people will offer rewards far nicer than the actual worth of the 'missing' item." She remarks with a grin, almost fondly remembering starting out and taking things only to receive the reward for being an upstanding citizen and returning them. Of course for the mostpart that didn't give enough money to feed four mouths but it felt a little better than outright theft, at least until her morals had slid back a little.
Atherton nods and smiles slightly "Sounds like you and I can do buisness. You keep watch for rewards, thats not really my line of work."
Nodding slightly Calandra walks alongside Atherton, wracking her mind for stories of the more notable pieces in the stash going missing. There can't be many brooches that cool, statues that scandalous or rings with messages that personal in existance in the city afterall.
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Calandra:
Most of the items you couldn't place, and from the dust, could ahve been there years anyway. You simply haven't been in the game, so to speak, long enough to have heard about those ones.
The broach though, is a different matter. The has been talk recently on the streets of a daring robbery of a Jewelers. One renowned for doing the Queen's work.Your bardic knowledge also throws up a connection to the Queen, that is after all, her personal seal on the broach, and a broken clasp would explain why it was in the jewelers in the first place. How it found it's way to Lamm is anyones guess....
There is one other thing on your mind though, an almost palpable desire to open the box you have pocketed...as though something is pulling on your mind.
Ok, the day is drawing on, and with your disruption to the business upstairs, it is extremely quiet, too quiet. Except for the buzzing of the flies around the hat box, and the occasional raised voice, and hysterical giggle from down the street, oh, and the thunderous booms from much further away, there is nothing to be heard.....It is as if this entire section of docks has been abandoned today....
"You know? You've give me a lot to think about. Being a crimelord might not be all that bad. Get out of my way, I'm selling these and the coin sure as hell isn't going to a temple."
"As you wish then..." Istas bows her head.
"I don't believe in fate." Atherton mutters, walking out....
The priestess leaves him be. Inwardly, however, she thinks, "But does fate believe in you?
Ok, the day is drawing on, and with your disruption to the business upstairs, it is extremely quiet, too quiet. Except for the buzzing of the flies around the hat box, and the occasional raised voice, and hysterical giggle from down the street, oh, and the thunderous booms from much further away, there is nothing to be heard....It is as if this entire section of docks has been abandoned today....
"It seems strange that no one else has arrived at the fishery since we've been here," Istas notes as she heads back upstairs, "Or that Jubrayl hasn't returned with the authorities..."
Ok, the day is drawing on, and with your disruption to the business upstairs, it is extremely quiet, too quiet. Except for the buzzing of the flies around the hat box, and the occasional raised voice, and hysterical giggle from down the street, oh, and the thunderous booms from much further away, there is nothing to be heard.....It is as if this entire section of docks has been abandoned today....
"Those can't be good." Atherton mutters, hoping that whatever it is, it isn't something that'll cause him an immediate problem. I need a chance to think.'
"Well, that's interesting.." Calandra mutters to herself more than anything else before turning her attention to the rest of the group. "Oh, I need to check for something else in Lamm's room I'll catch up to you guys!" She assures them with her brightest grin before dashing off, closing the door behind her.
Nevyn:
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** spoiler omitted **
Cal:
As you open the box, a small swarm of flies escapes, blinding your vision for a moment, once the swarm clears though, you see that there is a decaying head in the box, at least 3 or 4 days old . It is a head you recognize. A head you saw only last night.
It is Zellera's head.
Nevyn:
Nevyn:
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Cal:
Yep, she at least tries to open the box :) Hopefully without any of the others noticing it.
The small box opens easily, and in side is a package wrapped in silk. The first layer is a blue mottled type, followed by a red layer, and finally, a yellow/black stripe. Inside this final layer of silk are a deck of Harrow cards, apparently the same deck as the one that brought you to Zellera in the first place.
As you touch the cards, a wispy human shaped form matrialises slowly in front of you....
"Umm.. guys.. you may want to see this.." Cal calls out in the hopes at least one of the others will be listening, her voice a little shaken as she almost drops a wooden box that lies nestled in her hands.
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"Calandra my dear, you have found my cards! At last! Thank you" Zellera's form moves through the doorway into the main room, obviously expecting Cal to follow, and so that she can address the whole group of you.
"Firstly, let me appologise for my earlier deception. As you can see, I am less than completely alive, and my cards, are no longer of any use to me.
"My story though was true, apart from that fact. Lamm did do the things I said, except I foolishly decided to confront him, and my head ended up in the box in his study.
"I don't know how my spirit came to infest my harrow Deck, but I can only assume that my emotional ties to it, and to Korvosa itself, have had some influence on that.
"I brought you together because of my need, and because I know you all to be good people. Korvosa is in trouble at this time, more trouble than you can possibly imagine, and trouble I cannot entirely see, even with my now clarified vision of the future.
"In short, Korvosa will need you, over the coming months, and I will be here to help you, in any way I can.
"The first of those ways, is a gift to you now. Calandra my dear, touch one of the cards you hold to the wand you pockets earlier, there's a good dear....."
"What do you have there, Cal?" Malik walks over to Calandra, stopping his search among the debris and junk lying on the floor in the big room.
When Zellara comes out of the small room, he jumps back several feet... "Whoaa..." and watches the appearance talking.
Calandra clutches the box in her hands to her chest as she moves behind the vision of the departed older Varisian woman, her face a little pale and an upset and confused expression painted on her face. The expression soon clears and a faint blush comes to her cheeks as the wand she pocketed is mentioned, the announcement of the magical device in front of the wizard actually making her feel a little guilty as she realises that it may serve him better, especially as it was the one piece she had no intention of fencing.
Smiling weakly the young woman does as instructed and respectfully draws a card from the deck inside the wooden box and pulls the obsidian wand from where she'd carefully hidden it in one of her many pockets before gently touching the pair of items to one another.
Malik eyes widen as the shimmering dead lady tells her tale. "This is totally unheard of. Nothing in my studies has ever shown, that something like this is possible. What do you recall of your death? Was there something on your mind as your life left your body? What did you think? Did you cast a spell? And why do you say that Korvosa still needs us? Lamm is dead, we are avenged, end of story."
Malik eyes widen as the shimmering dead lady tells her tale. "This is totally unheard of. Nothing in my studies has ever shown, that something like this is possible. What do you recall of your death? Was there something on your mind as your life left your body? What did you think? Did you cast a spell? And why do you say that Korvosa still needs us? Lamm is dead, we are avenged, end of story."
"Curious..." Istas announces, coming back down the stairs just in time to see Zellera's apparition.
"Truly, we are blessed to witness a spirit yet to complete its journey into the afterlife." The priestess bows her head. "Usually, that happens because there is yet some task that's unfinished which prevents the spirit from departing our world. But the wizard is right. Lamm's reign is ended. Your murder and the murder of your child is avenged. Go to your rest, Zellera, secure in the knowledge that your task is now done..."
"My task is not yet done though children. I can feel in my bones that Korvosa has many months of trouble ahead, and that I can influence and help those things.
"For the moment, allow me to aid you as I can now, and allow Calandra to keep these cards nearby. That way, once you see that what I say is true, I will be here to help.
"I will tell you this, last night the King died. There are riots in the streets just beginning, and it will be a long night for Korvosa tonight."
"Calandra, that wand will throw fire-balls when activated, with the word, igno. This will happen 23 times as I can see."
With this, Zellara vanishes, obviously not happy at not being believed...
Carefully Calandra puts the card and wand away once more before hugging the box to her chest once more. "..Thank you.." she murmurs to both the cards and Zellara, thankful of the older woman's help. Looking up she gives a small, playful smile. "You heard the woman, riots. That means opportunity for looting!" She declares gladly a spring in her step as she starts for the exit.
"My task is not yet done though, children. I can feel in my bones that Korvosa has many months of trouble ahead, and that I can influence and help those things. "For the moment, allow me to aid you as I can now, and allow Calandra to keep these cards nearby. That way, once you see that what I say is true, I will be here to help."
Istas listens intently to the apparition, a million thoughts tumbling through her mind. Finally, one of them clicks into place so she can process and accept what Zellera's spirit is telling them...and so she can reconcile it with her faith in Pharasma's teachings.
'She's a guide...,' Istas realizes, 'A divinely-inspired guide, held back from the afterlife to deliver Pharasma's warning and help us to carry out the goddess' will.' She looks at the box Calandara holds, containing the cards that once belonged to the Varisian fortune-teller. 'And maybe these cards do have a divine purpose, after all...and not just a wizard's tricks...'
"I will tell you this, last night the King died. There are riots in the streets just beginning, and it will be a long night for Korvosa tonight."
"Riots?" Istas looks worriedly up the stairs, and her hand reaches for the club belted at her waist, "That's probably why Jubrayl hasn't returned. I hope he got the children to someplace safe..." She misses the rest of Zellera's words, but looks back at the assembled group when the ghost disappears.
Carefully Calandra puts the card and wand away once more before hugging the box to her chest once more. "..Thank you.." she murmurs to both the cards and Zellara, thankful of the older woman's help. Looking up she gives a small, playful smile. "You heard the woman, riots. That means opportunity for looting!" She declares gladly a spring in her step as she starts for the exit.
Before Calandra can reach the foot of the stairs, Istas blocks her way and draws forth her Shoanti warclub. "Stop!" she commands.
"Didn't you hear her?" she says, "Zellera says Korvosa has many months of trouble ahead. The King's death and these riots are certainly a harbinger of that. But how can we aid this city if we allow ourselves to fall to the same level as the rioters?"
The priestess gestures at the box Calandra still holds and the footlocker Atherton carries. "I won't begrudge you the plundering of Lamm's spoils," she explains, "But flaunting the laws of the city upon the King's death is not acceptable."
Her eyes turn to Malik and Torillan, hoping to appeal to them rather than depending on Atherton and Calandra's moral compass. "Do you agree with this?" she asks, "Did you not come here to exorcise the demons of your past? To take revenge upon Gaedren Lamm? We have achieved those goals. Isn't that enough?"
"It's time to let go," she implores them, "No more grieving for those you lost. No more anger and wrath bottled up inside. If you go out into those streets with your hearts still in the same place as when you arrived here, then Gaedren Lamm has won. He'll have the last laugh as you give in to the same ways and callousness that filled his life. It will simply have passed from him and into you."
"That kind of bile is evil," she warns, "It will consume you and lead you to the same fate Lamm faced this day. And if you join these riots and take your ignoble fill of the city's excess, I cannot go with you..."
"Maybe some of you don't care..." she looks pointedly at Atherton, "So you don't believe in fate? And you'd be happier without me plaguing your conscience. But forget about all that. You have an opportunity to be something higher, something better than those on the street. You can change! You must change. Not just for yourselves, but for your loved ones, and the future hope of this entire city."
Holding the deck of cards tightly Calandra's anger flares up at Istas' words, her eyes ablaze with fury. "I'm not grieving! I'm being practical! When you have a family to support then you can judge me! I do these things so they won't ever have to, did you ever stop to consider that?" She snarls out before shaking her head a little, her dark hair swaying back and forth a little as she takes a few deep breaths to calm herself.
"Our loved ones can rest in peace now, but I still have people I care for. If dark times are ahead then I definately need to make sure my sisters are safe and fed, they're all I have"
"Besides, what makes you so sure I should change? Maybe I'm fated to help by being exactly the way I am!"
Atherton raises his crossbow at the old woman's appearance, keeping it leveled at her face the entire time she speaks. 'Right, some old woman's spirit has been living in a box of Harrow cards since she died just so she can give us a warning of dark times. On the other hand riots would make sense with the sounds we heard...'
Looking up she gives a small, playful smile. "You heard the woman, riots. That means opportunity for looting!" She declares gladly a spring in her step as she starts for the exit.
Atherton allows a small grin "A lady after my own heart."
Before Calandra can reach the foot of the stairs, Istas blocks her way and draws forth her Shoanti warclub. "Stop!" she commands.
"Didn't you hear her?" she says, "Zellera says Korvosa has many months of trouble ahead. The King's death and these riots are certainly a harbinger of that. But how can we aid this city if we allow ourselves to fall to the same level as the rioters?"
The priestess gestures at the box Calandra still holds and the footlocker Atherton carries. "I won't begrudge you the plundering of Lamm's spoils," she explains, "But flaunting the laws of the city upon the King's death is not acceptable."
"Laws are made to be broken."
"It's time to let go," she implores them, "No more grieving for those you lost. No more anger and wrath bottled up inside. If you go out into those streets with your hearts still in the same place as when you arrived here, then Gaedren Lamm has won. He'll have the last laugh as you give in to the same ways and callousness that filled his life. It will simply have passed from him and into you."
"That kind of bile is evil," she warns, "It will consume you and lead you to the same fate Lamm faced this day. And if you join these riots and take your ignoble fill of the city's excess, I cannot go with you..."
"Never. Ever. Presume to judge my motives." Atherton snarls "When you've experienced what I have, then you can judge me. Until then, keep your counsel to yourself."
"Maybe some of you don't care..." she looks pointedly at Atherton, "So you don't believe in fate? And you'd be happier without me plaguing your conscience. But forget about all that. You have an opportunity to be something higher, something better than those on the street. You can change! You must change. Not just for yourselves, but for your loved ones, and the future hope of this entire city."
Atherton glares right back at Istas "You can't plague what I don't have. I don't have any loved ones and I don't give a damn about those on the street. Why should I change? I do alright now."
"Besides, what makes you so sure I should change? Maybe I'm fated to help by being exactly the way I am!"
"More importantly, what makes you think I want to change?"
Atherton glares right back at Istas "You can't plague what I don't have. I don't have any loved ones and I don't give a damn about those on the street. Why should I change? I do alright now."
Calandra frowns lightly and gently takes Atherton's arm, keeping quiet for a moment and waiting for him to finish saying his piece.
"More importantly, what makes you think I want to change?"
"You don't need to change Ath" She remarks easily with a light smile as she looks at the rogue, something in her eyes saying she knows more than she's saying. "But this isn't helping any of us is it? Looting or saving the populace, we're not going to be able to do either stood in this room are we?" She declares with a pointed look at the priestess.
"Oooh!" She chirps as she suddenly remembers something and fixes her bright grin on Atherton once more "I have something I need to tell you, so if I forget just remind me!"
Stung by the obstinate stance of both Calandra and Atherton, Istas looks sadly at Torillan and Malik.
"I'll take my leave..." she says, "Best of luck to you all on the streets." And she nods to Calandra. "I wish you and your family well."
She then turns and climbs the stairs, securing her warclub once again and leaving the fishery behind. 'Maybe I can find Jubrayl...' she thinks, 'He may need assistance...'
With a sigh Calandra lets go of Atherton's arm and follows the Shoanti. "Oh come on Istas, cheer up. Not everything is black and white and to be taken so seriously." She announces with a slight smile "Our fates are intertwined and you know it, but we all have long and interesting paths to travel and perhaps it's our differences that will ensure we make it through the hardships to come. Life is capricious and never easy.." She trails off with a slight smile as she thinks of her card for the day, the Rabbit Prince and on how many levels it could apply to the day so far. "So, cheer up. It'll all work out in the end." She declares before letting the priestess leaving and turning to wait for Atherton to catch up.
Atherton sighs and follows Calandra 'Shame. We could've gotten rid of the preacher.'. In a slight whisper he says "You had something you wanted to tell me?"
Grinning brightly Calandra gives a small nod at Atherton's words and replies in a low tone. "We've either hit the jackpot with one of the pieces in the footlocker or we need to dump it quickly, I'm thinking the former" She informs him certainly "The brooch is the queen's it was in for repairs when it was stolen, it means we probably can't fence it but if she cares enough for it to send it for the clasp to be repaired she surely cares enough to reward any 'upstanding citizen' who returns it to her, possibly with cash or if we play our cards right some sort of favour. Not much trumps having royalty on your side if you get yourself in trouble!"
"Oh come on Istas, cheer up. Not everything is black and white and to be taken so seriously." She announces with a slight smile "Our fates are intertwined and you know it, but we all have long and interesting paths to travel and perhaps it's our differences that will ensure we make it through the hardships to come. Life is capricious and never easy...So, cheer up. It'll all work out in the end."
Istas hears Calandra's words, but doesn't look back.
'If it's Pharasma's will our paths cross again, it'll happen,' she mentally replies, 'Just pray it happens for a good reason...like Malik, and not Gaedren Lamm.'
Once she exits the fishery, the priestess starts heading back into the city. She sighs, knowing it will be a long walk to reach the temple. And who knows what she might encounter along the way...
Grinning brightly Calandra gives a small nod at Atherton's words and replies in a low tone. "We've either hit the jackpot with one of the pieces in the footlocker or we need to dump it quickly, I'm thinking the former" She informs him certainly "The brooch is the queen's it was in for repairs when it was stolen, it means we probably can't fence it but if she cares enough for it to send it for the clasp to be repaired she surely cares enough to reward any 'upstanding citizen' who returns it to her, possibly with cash or if we play our cards right some sort of favour. Not much trumps having royalty on your side if you get yourself in trouble!"
Atherton looks surprised "The Queen's?" he hisses "That seems a little out of Lamm's league. Fencing it would be exceedingly dangerous, as would turning it in. Questions would be asked, but as long as we're careful, it could bring a tidy sum. Something to be considered later."
Calandra gives a confirming nod at Atherton's words. "I'm sure we can be careful enough. The higher the risk of the situation, the higher the payoff usually." She comments easily as she makes her way out of the fishery. "The Queen may have been out of Lamm's league but a jeweller good enough to have some discrete business with the crown possibly wouldn't have been."
Stepping out onto the street she turns to look at Atherton. "So? Finding somewhere to stash the footlocker and then looking into how this rioting is going?"
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As you pass out again into daylight. The sounds of violence fill the air from the distance, though the part of the city you are in seems unsually quiet. People almost seem to have gone to ground.
As you enter the street though, you see four men and a girl. One man, his back to the wall, wears the colours of an initiate of the Sable company, and he is fighting for his life. The girl stands watching, and occasionally giggling as her friends pommel the man.
Malik shakes his head, as he follows both of them out of the hideout throughthe ship over the creaking woodway into the street.
"I thought, both of you were oppotunistic, but had your heart in the right place. But now I see, how black it is. I had found some money upstairs, Cal. All you had to do, was ask, and I'd have supported your sisters gladly. There is no need to take from those that can't help their plights."
As they arrive in the street he is clearly taken back by the turmoil in front of him. "Shrimps!" slips from his lips.
Stepping out onto the street she turns to look at Atherton. "So? Finding somewhere to stash the footlocker and then looking into how this rioting is going?"
A barely perceptible far away look comes into Atherton's eyes and he murmurs "I know a place. Let me handle that."
"I thought, both of you were oppotunistic, but had your heart in the right place. But now I see, how black it is.
Atherton shrugs "What can I say? I'm a buisnessman; I have to looks out for myself and my interests."
Catching sight of the Sable companyman fighting the thugs, he sighs tiredly and looks around for a quick escape.
Calandra looks briefly hurt by Malik's words. "I thought you were better than that" She tells him in a disappointed tone "To tell me I'm black-hearted for doing all I can for my family, is just low. Besides, you didn't seem to think I was that dark when I was encouraging you to face your fears, but I guess that's all forgotten now" She remarks tensely. "To think I'd been thinking of doing more to help you.. Now I know what you really think of me I guess I'll be on my way."
Taking Atherton's arm again she gives an irritated sigh and walks beside him, letting him lead the way to wherever he has in mind to stash the footlocker.
Spotting the group of thugs the young Varisian looks even more irritated, whilst having no problem with a lot of crimes she can't stomach thuggery. What would happen to the Sable initiate's family if he were to die at their hands?
"Then you don't think, you can redeem yourself, Cal? Walking away solves all problems? Go ahead! Korvosa needs you! You wanna walk away from that, too? See those!"
Malik points to the fight going on the other side of the street.
"If Zellara is right, this will only be the tip of the iceberg. You need to face your own fears. I have, and you helped me with the first step. Korvosa needs help. If it's help I can give, I will. If you need help, I will. Walking away won't." With these words he runs over to the assault in progress, inclined to help with whatever resources he has.