Shadow over Riddleport

Game Master Joana

Smiling with an equal amount of pride, amusement and melancholy Phillip confirms "Aye, come to think it's the most I've seen in one place before as well... and it was all in Rotgut. An import was hoarding some of the take on a drug house... and this was what he managed to amass before Braddon's sword ended him." opening the coin purse that Braddon brought down from the tree and removing fifty in gold. A wink and proffered hand sees half of that entrusted to Ethel before Phillip bids them out and locks the door again behind.

His next port of call is his own room, moving within to dump the less fine of his clothes and clap hands "Now... shoes wasn't it?" smirking to his paramour.

"I didn't know anyone in Rotgut had that kind of money," Ethel remarks reverentially, glancing back down the hallway as she follows him to his room, "not if you turned them all upside down and shook them."

While Ethel is rummaging through the odds and ends she has left in the room over the past few days, Phillip sees Samaritha pass through the foyer past the marble statue of Desna and knock at Malkith's door.

"Don't mind him," Saul assures Snake with a wink. "He's a dwarf, you know. Now, what are you doing out and about town on your own that you're not with someone who has a key?"

He looks to Saul a moment, wondering if he's serious. "I'm guessing that's not a joke, so, to answer your question: I'm typically about town with no one else but me. Which is just the way I prefer it. Now, how much does an average door cost?"

"A door?" Saul asks, raising his eyebrows in amusement. "I'm not quite sure. You'd have to ask Larur ... or the local carpenter."

He grins at Lexy. "Anya is totally safe from her. And it sounds like Anya may get promoted if there's those issues with Shorafa's other pet. Rosie was it? What happened there?"

"I'm not exactly sure," Lexy responds. "Something about her giving information to someone on the outside about someone working at the temple? Shorafa's really careful about information getting out that could put any of us in danger, like someone finding out where we live and harassing us while we're not working, especially since ... you know." She tips her head toward the north and gives Braddon a significant glance, clearly referring to the Lil-Orik-Falk triangle and its fallout once again.

Snake tips his hat and takes his leave, making his way back downstairs.

"It sounds as if you can congratulate yourself on accomplishing one goal," Piccolo remarks to Gristav sagely. "She undoubtedly owes you thanks for her good fortune ... and that might be exactly why she won't be thanking you anytime soon. Perhaps she hoped to accomplish her goal on her own merit. Now, where is the crockery and flatware for your dinner?"

"Hmm? Oh, there's most of a serving set and such, upstairs. We'll just take the crock, when it's wanted. Well, I will."

"It was never her worth, in question, only their seeing it." Gristav draws and releases a practiced breath. "Still, if I lost her gratitude to help her happiness, well... If I'd only helped her for her gratitude, would I deserve it?"

"It's a rhetorical question. Or a philosophical one, I suppose. I'm afraid I'll be poor company, for any save Hero, for some little while. Perhaps you might survey the supperers? I'll watch our wares here."

She tips her head toward the north and gives Braddon a significant glance, clearly referring to the Lil-Orik-Falk triangle and its fallout once again.

Braddon nods and takes a sip of his ale.

Letting Ethel search and seeking to provide some degree of retaining order to the chaos Phillip responds "Well, if the man in question had any sense he wouldn't have kept it there... but I'd suspect there would be other places that might hold similar treasures." before pausing and adding wardingly "But as with this it generally takes blood and death to part it from it's owners..."

"Perhaps you might survey the supperers? I'll watch our wares here."

Piccolo heads for the staircase but is met at the door to the break room by Larur, heading in the opposite direction with a scowl and a good head of steam. The dwarf spares the gnome and the half-elf no more than a curt nod as he pushes his way through the swinging doors and disappears onto the main floor.

Ethel finds the shoes she was searching for and climbs into the chair across from the empty hearth to change her footwear, carefully arranging her skirts so as not to crease the silk. "That's not your normal way of doing business, though? Murdering people?"

"Shorafa's not that careful. Even after the murder, Lil's been taking clients back to her own secret hideout for ages, so I dunno why Shorafa thinks she should protect Lil. It looks like Lil doesn't want Shorafa's protection. Which is too bad since we've found Lil's hideout and one of her lackeys already and we're gonna..."

Braddon's voice trails off and he goes quiet for a second.
"Darn. I think I'm supposed to be working tonight."

Lexy looks at Braddon a little anxiously. "You really shouldn't get involved. Whatever it is Lil's done, it can't be worth getting on Shorafa's bad side."

Keeping his feet so as to not unhammer his own velvet Phillip's eyes tire and a wry smile forms on his lips "No... I wouldn't consider it standard. Truth be told even a common ruffian could likely o'ercome me in a battle of arms... the only ones I killed had already fallen when dealt the blow." casually throwing out the fact that he had not so much slain in the midst of pitched battle... but instead executed in lukewarm blood.

"Death is wasteful... and risky the same. Blood in Rotgut likely wouldn't draw much attention or retribution, but blood in Free-Coin..." shrugging and allowing Ethel's imagination to fill the gaps. Segueing naturally "At any rate, I suppose that food should be sought before entry into the House?"

Gristav wrote:

"Perhaps you might survey the supperers? I'll watch our wares here."

Piccolo heads for the staircase but is met at the door to the break room by Larur, heading in the opposite direction with a scowl and a good head of steam. The dwarf spares the gnome and the half-elf no more than a curt nod as he pushes his way through the swinging doors and disappears onto the main floor.

"Piccolo?", Gristav calls, expecting the gnome hadn't made many of the human-sized steps yet, "Actually, let's invert that. You stir, I'll begin my survey with Larur..."

Gristav goes after Larur, scooping up the bundle of tarts on his way out of the kitchen.

Having called Piccolo back into the kitchen to watch the stew, Gristav follows Larur to his office. The dwarf doesn't light a lamp, a clear sign he's not looking for company as he takes a seat behind his desk; even with Gristav's elven vision, he can only just barely make out hints of movement in the darkness.

"I'll leave", Gristav offers. "Or I'll listen. Or we could just sit here and savage a bag full of tarts...?" The half-elf sets the bundled tarts in reach of the dwarf, counting on the habitual clearness of the desktop to provide an open space he can't quite see. "Or you could have the tarts, without me, or..."

The peredhel could permute possibilities all night, the dwarf had to know. But Gristav stopped, letting the silence settle.

"Death is wasteful... and risky the same. Blood in Rotgut likely wouldn't draw much attention or retribution, but blood in Free-Coin..." shrugging and allowing Ethel's imagination to fill the gaps.

"There was an alchemist murdered there some time back that was the talk of the town for a while," she agrees, "although he was Cleg Zincher's brother, so there probably would have been trouble no matter where he was killed."

Segueing naturally "At any rate, I suppose that food should be sought before entry into the House?"

"But we mustn't spill anything," she cautions, getting to her newly-shod feet and smoothing her inky skirts. She carefully lays her other clothing over the arm of the chair. "You really need a hanging rod in here, Phil," she laments.

Snake comes back down the stairs to find the kitchen empty except for the gnome tending the stew.

"The key there being that it was the brother of Zincher... and not just a wastrel." before he chuckles at her comment regarding the furniture... or more pointedly the lack thereof "A bed I need not have a stepladder to climb upon and chairs less stately... and many other things beside. Arrangements have been made for some... I think and hope they're still valid."

Winking and adding "But if milady has specific requests then it might be easier for milady to seek redress. I would hate to endeavor to satisfy and find my efforts wanting" patting at a coin purse to suggest that if Ethel were to arrange it then the cost would be met.

Lexy looks at Braddon a little anxiously. "You really shouldn't get involved. Whatever it is Lil's done, it can't be worth getting on Shorafa's bad side."

"Bit late for that."

"How many are we for supper?" Piccolo asks Snake. "How many putative diners are upstairs?"

"No, lad," the dwarf grunts slowly. "Go about your business. Keep an eye on ... things. I have some paperwork to look over." An exaggerated rustle of parchment announces his ability to do just that, despite the darkness. The ruined voice stops Gristav before he can exit the office. "That stray giant you took in, he wants his own key. Any good reason he should or shouldn't have it?"

Having completed her preparations, Ethel departs the room with Phillip, and they once again cross the casino floor. Entering the kitchen, they find Snake and Piccolo. "Ah," the gnome greets them, "will the pair of you be dining here?"

"Oh." She looks dismayed. "Um ... I guess so. I mean ... are you sure you'll be coming back? I don't know. If you're working against Shorafa, maybe I shouldn't be seeing you at all...."

Shaking his head and producing Gristav's key in the same movement Phillip replies "No, we will be elsewhere. Could you see this returned to Gristav?"

"No, lad," the dwarf grunts slowly. "Go about your business. Keep an eye on ... things. I have some paperwork to look over." An exaggerated rustle of parchment announces his ability to do just that, despite the darkness. The ruined voice stops Gristav before he can exit the office. "That stray giant you took in, he wants his own key. Any good reason he should or shouldn't have it?"

"HE doesn't know who he is, so how can I tell you? He's known well enough to Marzo's people that they spoke of it, but we oughtn't damn a man for his fellows; who would doctor to the soul-sick? He supported me by witchish magics, during the battle, but while it was half-done, he leaped out the window. He's shown a care for the helpless, a careless air with authority, and disdain for my musing meanderings. I trust his heart, but not his wits, just as you trust my wits and heart, but not my wisdom. I can't tell you it's wisdom to welcome him, or justice, to deny him. But it's surely mercy, to give him a key, and let this house be safe harbor, while he patches his memory, and perhaps his soul."

"He'd not be the first magician, with no better option, to find space under your roof."

"How many are we for supper?" Piccolo asks Snake. "How many putative diners are upstairs?"

Snake stares at the gnome a moment, wondering how in the world he wound up in a place where it seems everyone talks oddly. "No idea how many. There are two upstairs but I got no idea if they're gonna eat. But I'll take a bowl of whatever that is if it's ready."

Piccolo takes the room key from Phillip. "Two upstairs, you and I and the half-elf: That's at least five. I'm told there's crockery upstairs. If you wouldn't mind carrying the pot? It's a bit cumbersome for a Small person to manhandle while maneuvering the staircase." He calls after Phillip and Ethel as they move toward the back corridor, "You've a key to let yourselves back in? There seems to be some difficulty with the entrance. Perhaps Saul should employ a butler? I do hope the clientele can find their way in during business hours."

"He'd not be the first magician, with no better option, to find space under your roof."

Larur's unseen grunt has a touch of grudging humor. "I was gruff with him earlier. Wasn't his fault. I'll see to the key."

Phillip responds "Aye" to the question, and leaves the rest of the musings unanswered as Ethel and he step back out into the city. Crook of his elbow offered as a handhold for the lady he smiles and pats her looped hand. "Now... for the night. Where does your stomach lead us?"

Without a response, the tall man takes the pot and immediately heads upstairs with it. Once there, he finds a place to set it down and then looks for a bowl to use.

Gristav wrote:

"He'd not be the first magician, with no better option, to find space under your roof."

Larur's unseen grunt has a touch of grudging humor. "I was gruff with him earlier. Wasn't his fault. I'll see to the key."

"I can hardly imagine, you, gruff?", Gristav jousts. "I'm gathering you aren't wont leave your darkness, soon. Shall I bring you stew, to go with those tarts? And would you rather Kane knock on the door, and need your light, or... will you be coming to dinner?"

"We've a confession still to make, Hero and I, before we might wash our hands for dinner. I'll check back again, after." Holding the kitten before him with both hands, Gristav malingers, "He takes two hands... I'll have to leave the tarts!"

Gris makes for the staff rooms hallway, somehow managing to close Larur's door.

"Oh." She looks dismayed. "Um ... I guess so. I mean ... are you sure you'll be coming back? I don't know. If you're working against Shorafa, maybe I shouldn't be seeing you at all...."

"Of course I'm coming back. It's just handing over a prisoner at the docks after dark. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Shall I bring you stew, to go with those tarts? And would you rather Kane knock on the door, and need your light, or... will you be coming to dinner?"

"I'll get it to him," the dwarf responds, "and I can find the stew if I want it later. The problem's with my breath; I haven't lost my legs," he ribs gently.

Still carrying an increasingly squirmy kitten, Gristav returns to the residential wing.

Crook of his elbow offered as a handhold for the lady he smiles and pats her looped hand. "Now... for the night. Where does your stomach lead us?"

Ethel considers a moment as the halflings' steps wend toward the ferry. "Let's go back to the Lone Hippocampus. We're certainly glamorous to sit on the pavement to see and be seen. Thank Gozreh it's not raining tonight."

Snake sets the stew pot down on the dining table and looks around for the crockery and cutlery. Saul and Bojasc trail in after him, drawn by the aroma.

"Here, that will mar the table," Saul observes. "Bojasc, get a folded cloth to put under it." As the bodyguard stoically obeys, Saul directs Snake to the bowls and spoons in the buffet against the wall. "I must say," the one-handed man says cheerfully, "we bachelors have been dining much better since we hired on so much help. Cold-meat-and-bread sandwiches were about the extent of our evening meals when it was just the three of us."

Lexy hesitates. "I guess I could stay here a while and wait for you to come back ... if you're sure you'll be back."

"Aye," Arnando puts in from where he is eavesdropping from behind the bar, "and you'll drink on his coin until then. If he doesn't come back for you, I'll find someone to see you safe to your doorstep." He fixes Braddon with a stern glare. "And I'll have a reckoning with you for standing up a lady. Agreed?"

"Done... a lazy start to an evening I'll spend basking in the radiance of the flower beside me" winking and squeezing her hand with the crook of his elbow. "I do hope that the House doesn't disappoint if we are able to breach it's exclusivity... t'would be such a pity if we managed entry only to find faded linens and stale scents of glories past."

"Here now, Hero", Gristav cautions. "I do understand you are to be loved and explore in equal portions, when you're awake..." Gristav added the last smiling, but the leonine - leoneight? lad had had enough cuddliness. Gristav could imagine Hero arguing, "There are THINGS! And I have to GET them!"

When he put it that way, it seemed a trump, and Gris set the kitten down. "Have a care. If you head for the kitchens, you may find yourself dinner, but if you head for the cellars, you might find yourself lunch." After a moment, Gristav conjured a firefly, in hope of herding Hero. This should go much more smoothly, Gristav thought, with Hero's insistent innocent immaturity, couching the confession.

Reaching Samaritha's door, Gristav knocked softly. Remembering she'd been bound for Malkith's, he whisked the firefly up the hall, and when Hero gave chase, followed, knocking on each door, telling any who answered, dinner was to be had.

Lexy hesitates. "I guess I could stay here a while and wait for you to come back ... if you're sure you'll be back."

Braddon scowls at Arnando and addresses Lexy.

Snake sets the stew pot down on the dining table and looks around for the crockery and cutlery. Saul and Bojasc trail in after him, drawn by the aroma.

"Here, that will mar the table," Saul observes. "Bojasc, get a folded cloth to put under it." As the bodyguard stoically obeys, Saul directs Snake to the bowls and spoons in the buffet against the wall. "I must say," the one-handed man says cheerfully, "we bachelors have been dining much better since we hired on so much help. Cold-meat-and-bread sandwiches were about the extent of our evening meals when it was just the three of us."

Snake looks to the rotund man a moment before turning away... looking as if he's pondering something. A moment later, "I like cold-meat-and-bread sandwiches," he simply states, pausing a moment, again looking as if he's trying to figure something out. "At least, I think I do," he eventually says before helping himself to a bowl of stew, thinking nothing more on the matter.

Having temporarily distracted the kitten, Gristav begins to knock at each of the doors in the hall, starting with Samaritha's. There is no answer at her door or at Daynadrian's. Braddon's and Snake's rooms also yield no response. Clever enough to skip his own door, Gristav moves on to Tendal's, where he once again appears to interrupt the impatient mage.

"What is it now? I haven't -- Oh, dinner? Very well." He steps out into the hall and carefully locks the door behind him as Gristav steps across the corridor to Malkith's room.

The door, not quite closed, swings gently open at his knock to reveal Samaritha sitting in the chair at the end of the neatly-made bed, a sheet of parchment in her hand and her face streaked with tears. "Malkith's gone," she explains simply.

"Gone? What do you mean, 'gone?'" Tendal demands, pushing past Gristav into the room and looking around as if expecting to find the Harrower hiding somewhere within. "He's been paid through Sunday."

Braddon takes his leave from Lexy and heads back out into the darkness, noting with displeasure that another man has already slid into the space he was occupying at the bar and is offering the redhead an ingratiating grin. He hurries back up the river toward the lights of Free-Coin. While the flatboats are disgorging full loads of patrons heading for the entertainment district, it's early enough in the evening that few are yet departing for their homes and beds so the half-elf is able quickly to step aboard a mostly-empty ferry making the return trip.

The dock on the eastern bank is crowded with passengers whose impatience at having to wait for Braddon to disembark is palpable. As they start to press forward, he picks his way through the crowd, trying to avoid being swept back onto the boat. As he finally steps off the dock back onto the cobblestones, he spies Phillip waiting his turn to board, dressed in elegant evening clothing with a similarly fashionable halfling woman on his arm.

---------------------

Phillip and Ethel make their way to the dock and join the knot of people milling about while awaiting the next ferry to the west bank. As it docks and the crowd begins to surge forward, the pair of halflings hang back, not wanting their finery to be crushed in the press. Phillip sees Braddon pushing his way against the flow of traffic, having just stepped off the flatboat from the other side.

Phillip keeps eyes on Braddon and offers him a tip of his imaginary hat, but doesn't seek to waylay him for further conversation unless Braddon was inclined.

Braddon smiles when he sees Phillip, nods, waves, frowns and pushes on.

Phil allows Braddon to continue on his way, passing him off as "A friend and colleague" if asked by Ethel while they await an opening unto the ferry.

"Gone? What do you mean, 'gone?'" Tendal demands, pushing past Gristav into the room and looking around as if expecting to find the Harrower hiding somewhere within. "He's been paid through Sunday."

"He's still on Mr. Vankaskerkin's business," Samaritha retorts sharply, defending Malkith with a vehemence she'd never muster on her own behalf. She hands the creased sheet of parchment over to Tendal. As the wizard turns his attention to the letter with a frown, Gristav sees Samaritha slip a second folded packet into the pocket of her robes.

Edit: Green-robed ninja! Just ignore the last line? The rest still works.

The door, not quite closed, swings gently open at his knock to reveal Samaritha sitting in the chair at the end of the neatly-made bed, a sheet of parchment in her hand and her face streaked with tears. "Malkith's gone," she explains simply.

"Oh, Sam-", Gristav began, his face clouding to her storm.

"Gone? What do you mean, 'gone?'" Tendal demands, pushing past Gristav into the room and looking around as if expecting to find the Harrower hiding somewhere within. "He's been paid through Sunday."

"Really? You barge into the room, but not to comfort the lady? Would a pan full of tears, help balance your book? Out.", Gristav commands, putting hands on Tendal, sharing reassuring words inconsistent with persistent will, ushering, "You can take the loss from me; and now it's my loss, so you've no stake in the matter. Good Evening.", the armored half-elf huffed, closing the door, with Tendal without.

Kneeling beside the seated Samaritha, Gristav guessed, experimentally empathetically, "Sam. You were close? He was the one who understood you? But... weren't you, about to go..?"

If the parchment is offered, or discarded, and if attention can be spared from Samaritha, Gristav will read it.