Nevyn's CotCT (Inactive)

Game Master Nevynxxx

Looking up from her sisters Cal blinks a couple of times at Atherton's words. "On your own? In this?" She responds with a shake of her head "Maybe the other boys have infected you with that whole death wish thing"

Atherton shrugs. "I don't live too far from here.. Besides I know a few quite ways to get there."

"Why don't you stay for a while? You're here now and we can keep the box safe and maybe have a drink, Desna knows I need one!"

Atherton pauses, his desire to be alone warring with his desire to stay where he is. After a moment he sighs. "Fine. I'll stay here for now and wait for things to quite down a little."

Retrieving the glass bottle she refocuses on the group ahead of her and see her youngest sister moving to say something to their guest. "Kiz, no." Is all she says before moving to fill drinking vessels of varying sizes and shapes. Actual wine glasses for her and Atherton and smaller cups for the girls with progressively less and less wine in each container, not one to deny her sisters she at least makes sure to ration them.

The hell knights stand firm, and raising their weapons, strike in unison, felling the great beast with their combined blows.

Torillan pulls up sharply as the beast falls, and jumps out of it's way as it crashes to the ground.

From inside their sealed helms, one of the knights turns to take you all in as he speaks.

"Do you follow the law?"

Oh, and that will be 300XP each...even the pesky hell knights...

"Girls, this is Atherton, he's statying with us until things calm down out there. Atherton, this is Sadira, Taletha and Kizzy" She points out each of her sisters in turn...

"A pleasure to meet you." Atherton says quietly, not meeting anyone's eyes.

Retrieving the glass bottle she refocuses on the group ahead of her and see her youngest sister moving to say something to their guest. "Kiz, no." Is all she says before moving to fill drinking vessels of varying sizes and shapes. Actual wine glasses for her and Atherton and smaller cups for the girls with progressively less and less wine in each container, not one to deny her sisters she at least makes sure to ration them.

Atherton's eyes narrow slightly at Calandra's gentle rebuke 'What was she going to say that Calandra didn't want me to hear?'.

The other two sisters however sit in stunned silence for a moment at Atherton's words. Sadira's face slowly breaks into a bright grin and she raises her cup before lifting it in their guest's direction whilst Taletha looks a little disapproving "Oh Cal..." She gasps "You said you wouldn't hurt anybody, what if you get caught?"

Calandra merely shakes her head and lifts her glass in Atherton's direction. "Don't worry so much Tal" She replies easily to her sister's question with a little smile "To old Gaedran Lamm" She repeats the sentiment before taking a sip from her glass.

Taletha looks a little disapproving at both Calandra and Atherton "I hope for both of your sakes that's the truth."

"Oh lighten up!" Sadira interjects, her eyes coming to rest on the footlocker her sister and their guest had brought in with them. "Is that old Gaedren's stuff then?" She asks, her eyes bright as she imagines the treasures that could be contained within.

"Oh please let there be enough in there for Cal to stop doing this..." Tal prays quietly as she too looks at the box.

Calandra gives Atherton a small apologetic smile and shakes her head a bit. "I think you'll find miracles do happen, you just need a way to rebuild hope in your life. Of course in this case, the guard have far more important things on their minds so they really won't be doing much to investigate the death of a criminal so we're fine"

Both Taletha and Kizzy sit in silence, both throwing sulking glares at Calandra whilst Sadira eyes up the footlocker, her calculating eyes hinting that perhaps this isn't the first time she's appraised something's worth on the fly.

"Is that old Gaedren's stuff then?"

Atherton nods. "As much of the old bastard's stuff as we could find. Seems he accumulated a good bit of loot in his miserable life." 'And all of it worth nothing in the face of what I lost.'

"I think you'll find miracles do happen, you just need a way to rebuild hope in your life."

"I have only slightly more use for hope than I do for miracles. In my experience, hope exists to be lost." Atherton says, growing more irritated. 'Leave me alone. I don't need a damned pep talk. Just leave me alone.' he thinks, wondering why doesn't speak his mind and leave.

Kizzy stops sulking and looks overjoyed at the interaction between Calandra and Atherton.

Sadira and Taletha however use the distraction to sneak closer to the foot locker to have nosy at it's contents.

I'm sure she has contacts for fencing some stuff herself and her plan is largely to keep Atherton around so they can sell thestuff together - not that she's untrusting or anything but she's been screwed over in the past!

Ok, I'll let you get on with it then....

The hell knights simply turn away, presumably with expressions of scorn on their faces and continue in their initial direction.

Reth leads the way back to the Sable Company headquarters, with Torillan and Malik in tow, carefully avoiding the groups of thugs, and dooms-day criers, the hell knights and stray baying dogs. As they approach the building they are after, Torillan stops.

"This is as far as I go, I'm not made for places like that, and I've done for Lamm. I need to get back to my work, and the places I know, and lay some memories to rest properly.

"Desna's luck to you, and I hope to see you in the future."

With that, he turns down an alleyway and disappears

As they enter the barracks, a tall seargent stops them. "You, recruit, where is your company? And who is this stray?"

"I think you're lying" The youngest Oriana pipes up, her dark eyes fixed on Atherton.

"Kiz, please. No meddling today, please" Cal replies quickly with a pointed look in her sister's direction.

The hell knights simply turn away, presumably with expressions of scorn on their faces and continue in their initial direction.

Reth leads the way back to the Sable Company headquarters, with Torillan and Malik in tow, carefully avoiding the groups of thugs, and dooms-day criers, the hell knights and stray baying dogs. As they approach the building they are after, Torillan stops.

"This is as far as I go, I'm not made for places like that, and I've done for Lamm. I need to get back to my work, and the places I know, and lay some memories to rest properly.

"Desna's luck to you, and I hope to see you in the future."

With that, he turns down an alleyway and disappears

As they enter the barracks, a tall seargent stops them. "You, recruit, where is your company? And who is this stray?"

Reth turns toward Malik as soon as the Hell Knights are out of earshot, "Stay away from that tyrannical lot, they will throw you in some deep dank gulag for some slight against their version of the law. So, you mind fillin me in on your friends? Who was the girl and her broodin companion? And who is the swordsman who keeps only his own council?"

Suprised by Torillan's sudden words, "Now we haven't been properly introduced but I respect a man who knows the sharp edge of a sword from a hewin blade. Mayhaps when you finish reminiscin you might consider lookin up the Company and seein what we're about. Sable is always lookin for capable folk. Goram's strength, may you find your path."

Reth straightens up when addressed by the sergeant, "Sir, my company and I were parted when a right wrathful mage decided to take a dislike and rained fire and brimstone down upon our heads. So we are back here lookin for news of my patrol and the city. This here is Malik, a not so wrathful mage unless your wrongin someone. He saved my backside from some thugs who decided it would be a good day to go murderin a lone Sable. Here are their weapons and armor as I figure they may be good for the sparrin yard. He also helped put down a rampagin Otyugh. The least I owe him is an ale and a woman down at the House of Clouds. I'd like to give him safe harbor until the city quiets."

"I think you're lying" The youngest Oriana pipes up, her dark eyes fixed on Atherton.

"Kiz, please. No meddling today, please" Cal replies quickly with a pointed look in her sister's direction.

Atherton leans forward in his chair, on his guard again. "No, I'd like to hear this." he says, eyeing the youngest Oriana with curiosity and suspicion. "What makes you think I'm lying, little one? What do you think I'm lying about?"

"I know things Atherton, I'm not a stupid child" Kizzy replies quietly, seemingly a little embaressed at her own passionate words "You know what I'm accusing you of being a liar over, deep down."

Turning away from him she refocuses on her sister "Maybe you're right, he might not be the one the cards spoke of" She remarks bluntly.

Calandra's cheeks start to burn a faint pink at Kiz's words and goes to reply when she is spared her embaressment by sounds from her other two sisters.

A small giggle comes from Sadira and a gasp from Taletha as in the moment of distraction they get into the footlocker and find the succubi statue.

On his way to the watch Malik briefs Reth about the others in the fracas with the Otyugh.

"Cal and Atherton are also two persons who Gaedren Lamm had wronged somehow, as well as Istas, the Shoanti priestess of Pharasma, whom you have seen in the shadows. I hope, Fate will bring us together again, as she and Cal have sparked my will to live again. Yubrail, the paladin, has brought the children who were working in abnormal conditions to a safe place, along with his sister. Cal and Ath have taken some things belonging to Lamm as reparation for the wrongs they have suffered. For me, it was enough to see justice served and his menace to other citizens and especially children reduced to naught."

"But the strangest thing of all was, how we came together. We all found Harrow cards, where we were told, that in order to know more about the one who wronged us dearly we should go to a certain house. We met there last evening and were greeted by a woman, who gave us the location of the Fishery and the information, that Lamm was behind the deepest betrayal we suffered in our respective lives. We came quickly to the conclusion, that we needed to take out Lamm ourselves as he still had connections to the Watch. So we confronted him, but he was killed and taken into the deeps of the river by his pet alligator, but only after he tried to get a leg off me. But afterwards, we found out, that this woman we met yesterday evening... her head was rotting in a box in the hideout of Lamm, several days dead. Then we left the Fishery, and you already know the rest of the story."

With that, he turns and walks away. Leaving you with only the marks of rank, he bears as an indication of where to find him in two days time.

The Seargent tilts his head, "chances are you team didn't make it back today. We've lost a lot of good men today, and more Marinees than trainees.

"For now, all the trainees that return are to stay in the building for a day or two, if your company doesn't return by sunrise the day after tomorrow, come to me again. As for your friend, I'm sure you will be able to find him a place to sleep for the next day or two, he will be treated as an initiate, so like you, will be stopped from leaving until you have word from me.

With that, he turns and walks away. Leaving you with only the marks of rank, he bears as an indication of where to find him in two days time.

"Hmmm, dealin with a vengeful spirit sounds like a risky proposition. Hah, watch yourself around that Varisian dancer as she'll steal more than your heart. Cal and Ath seemed a might eager to be on their own way, not sure if you'll see those two again. Ah, the Shoanti was with you. Thought she may have been a scout for a raidin party to take advantage of the chaos as that would be like them. Still.....doesn't necessarily mean that she wasn't. And you? Where are you from? Obvious to say you have some Academy trainin."

After the sergeant departs, "Sounds like things are worse than even I suspected. I hope any business you have out there can wait a day. This will prolly be one of the safer places in town. Here is where my company stays." He shows Malik to a cot. "Feel free to rest here whenever you need to. Wasn't my intention to keep you here if it's not your will though. Well lets make the best of it, let's go see who is here and what news they have on the happenins outside." With that he begins to talk to the other marines about what is happening in the city, who's in charge, and what the next steps will be for the company.

Unskilled diplomacy roll for gathering info (nat20 + 2cha)=22 (whoohoo! Makin up for those abysmal thug combat rolls, though I am sure this is probably info they just would have given me, lol)

rolls for the card game:
Sense Motive(r7+2fe)= 9
Bluff (r3+2cha+2fe)= 7
Perception (r18+4s+2fe) = 24 (for all those cheaters)

Turning away from him she refocuses on her sister "Maybe you're right, he might not be the one the cards spoke of" She remarks bluntly.

Atherton looks questioningly at Calandra. “Explain, please.” he says, watching Calandra's reaction and hoping he hasn't wandered into trouble. He watches Sadira and Taletha out of the corner of his eye, wanting to make sure that one of the two doesn't make off with some of his loot.

"But I'm old enough now Cal!" The youngest sister objects "You know it! You do! Start living your life for yourself for a change!" The young teen practically begs.

At Kizzy's words Taletha and Sadira are distracted from their cooing over bits of the loot, both of their attentions focused on Calandra, waiting for her answer.

"It's not time yet Kiz" Is all Cal says in response.

"You're just saying that because you're scared now, you don't have your vow to yourself to hide behind any more" Kizzy responds calmy, her voice gentle despite the fact the words have obviously stung Calandra if the eldest girl's sudden deep blush and silence are anything to go by.

Calandra flinches visibly at Kizzy's words and keeps her focus on her drink, easily draining the last of her glass and moving away to refill it. 'Thanks Kiz, give him all the details of my life, or lack thereof, why don't you?'

With a sigh Calandra hangs her head, no amount of loot was worth this. 'You can get another big score another day, just get him and the stuff out of the door before Kizzy digs a nice big hole for you. So much for this maybe being enough for a retirement from dancing'

"Okay, Kiz. Stop it. You wonder why I never bring men home... maybe it's because I was afraid you'd do this to them and I'd never see them again!" She gives another sigh and looks at Atherton "I'm sorry about this, she's quite determined to help set my future on a certain path. Look, why don't you take the strongbox and I'll keep the brooch and contact the castle, possibly with Reth's help to stop suspiscion falling on us..."

As fun as it is watching poor Cal squirm I'm happy to have her write off the loot and send Ath off to with it, just to save on embaressment! :P

"And the fact it was Cal that had the loot had nothing to do with you being here?" Kizzy asks pointedly "My sister isn't the strongest of people, if it was just the loot you were after you'd have just taken it. Cal would have chased you for a while but she has us to worry about so she'd have eventually written it off." Carefully the youngest Oriana shuffles her Harrow deck and watches Atherton's reactions to her words.

Atherton shrugs. "Call it what you want; call it a sense of camadarie from defeating Lamm, call it an attempt to avoid sullying my reputation. I suppose you're entitled to your opinion about your Harrowing." 'And hopefully I'll have figured it out myself before you decide what you'll call it.'

"Okay, Kiz. Stop it. You wonder why I never bring men home... maybe it's because I was afraid you'd do this to them and I'd never see them again!" She gives another sigh and looks at Atherton "I'm sorry about this, she's quite determined to help set my future on a certain path. Look, why don't you take the strongbox and I'll keep the brooch and contact the castle, possibly with Reth's help to stop suspiscion falling on us..."

"Your future's not hers to set. Nor is mine, and I'd appreciate it if she didn't try to meld this situation to fit her readings." the last part, directed rather pointedly at Kizzy.

Shaking her head Calandra takes the brooch from the box, hoping that it's reward value will make up for letting the footlocker go. Smiling weakly she moves over to Atherton and gives him a brief hug. "You take care of yourself, I'm going to go see Reth whilst I know where he'll be, I may never find him again once he's set to patrolling again. I need to see if his help can be secured without cutting into any possible reward money." She announces certainly. "He seemed willing enough to help before"

She gives a small shrug and heads for the door "Feel free to stay as long as you want, if you can put up with my sisters" She calls after her before slipping out of the door before he can reply or her sisters can object.

He looks around the near empty barracks. "Calistria's Cutthroat? What kind of game is that? I am not particular fond of games involving too much luck. But I will try to help, killing time until the worst turmoil in the city is over. If they need to call for the Nails, it is dire indeed..."

Malik sighs as it becomes clear to him, that he will be closed into this building for the time. His newly found freedom wants no place to hole up in, he wants to scream out into the world, that he laid his demons (personal and nearly literal) to rest. "I feel relieved now, Reth. Relieved that it is over, this business with Lamm, and I hope I can find a bit of closure with Vivienne."

He looks around the near empty barracks. "Calistria's Cutthroat? What kind of game is that? I am not particular fond of games involving too much luck. But I will try to help, killing time until the worst turmoil in the city is over. If they need to call for the Nails, it is dire indeed..."

Reth fails to understand that Malik is mainly talking to and reassuring himself, "Nasty business that from the sound of it. You have got it right to feel relieved its over and done. From my understandin, Lamm chose his fate long ago. Now let's see if we can relieve some of these jackals of this weeks pay." He says with a half smile. Reth hands a flask to Malik (half-full of pure local whiskey). "Take a swig of that and then eat one of those pasties, it adds some flavor. Nah, Calistria's Cutthroat is part luck, part strategy, with a big helpin of treachery thrown in." After the game gets going. "What happened with this Vivienne. She no longer sweet on you? You might look to that Calandra if we see her again." He winks.

Big hand of God coming up....sorry.[./ooc]

Calandra find the Barracks of the Sable company to be inaccessible. a small hoard of people is trying to find sanctuary inside, making her attempts difficult at best. Even her attempts to hail the guards to ask for Reth fall on deaf ears. Reluctantly she returns to her home to find her sisters, waiting with the Succubi statuette.

"Ath left this as a token that he will be back. He left us a map of how to find him too, if we need him. He said that he thinks the best bet with the broach is to take it to the castle in a couple of days, and that in the mean time, he will sell the stuff he has, and being the proceeds with him when he comes back." Says Kiz before she slams the door to the room she shares with her sisters...

[ooc]If I remember rightly, Malik (or Cal?) has the wand, and I just pulled the statuette from your hoard for you :). I'm assuming you keep the magic items too, and obviously, Cal still has the broach.

Over the next day or so, Ath sells the loot at various places, and to various fences, never selling enough to make a big impression, and making sure that, despite the troubles, the loot makes it's way throughout the city, and away from himself and Cal.Making around 1125gp

Two mornings later, he appears at Calandra's door before sunrise, and knocks...

Half-dressed for the day ahead Calandra answers the door with a bright smile, despite the early hour. "Hey trouble" She greets him easily, smoothly hiding her surprise at seeing him again, before heading back into the house, leaving him to let himself in "Did you have fun fencing things?" She questions over her shoulder as she heads towards the kitchen "And do you want something breakfast-like?"

"Hmmmm, the guard still after you? I might be able to smooth things a little there should the need ever arise. Those sound like some rough times. By the look of it you were playin a little bit of Calistria's game already." Holding up a card that symbolizes revenge from the table. He hands him back the flask and raises another. "To the women that inspire us to be better men, Vivienne, may she have found peace and watch over us all in these times of trouble!" With that he takes a big drink. Seeing Malik listing a bit after his last drink Reth takes him to where he can rest. "Tomorrow, may be an even busier day than today."

"And do you want something breakfast-like?"

Atherton hesitates for a moment, almost refusing and turning to leave. Instead he nods; “I’d appreciate that.”