The roach is too quick for Snake, his morningstar crashing down into the refuse just behind the beetle as it scuttles away after Lucky. This time, however, the mongoose is aware of the danger and manages to dodge the snapping mandibles.
Gristav climbs the stairs back to the upper floor and the owner's suite, where he finds the occupants of the dining room still discussing Malkith's absence. "He ought to have left us some hint as to where he is and what he is doing," Saul argues. "If anything were to happen to him (Desna forbid, of course)," he puts in with an apologetic glance at Samaritha, "we have no way of following up on his suspicions ... or putting together a rescue party."
Phillip pauses for a few moments erstwhile and pleasant before starting almost apologetically "Oh yes, sorry... I am Phillip Hargreaves, recently of Magnimar and in town on business." making a point of introducing himself, though placing no importance upon his name, instead saving a slight lilt for the name in his next phrase "I was at Whitelips' a moon past and the consensus was that if one was to risk one's coin in Riddleport, then the House was the only place it would be worthwhile." finishing with a slight smile before frowning and adding as a halting query and gesture towards the door"May we then?... or is there an issue?" a slight cloud of confusion settling upon his countenance.
Phil catches the doorman's quick glance over at his partner before he answers deferently, "Aye, sir, then your mates will have told you about the membership fee? It's how we keep the riff-raff out, you see," he goes on apologetically, "and keep the House a suitable place for discriminating patrons like yourself and your lady." He tugs his forelock in Ethel's direction.
Gristav climbs the stairs back to the upper floor and the owner's suite, where he finds the occupants of the dining room still discussing Malkith's absence. "He ought to have left us some hint as to where he is and what he is doing," Saul argues. "If anything were to happen to him (Desna forbid, of course)," he puts in with an apologetic glance at Samaritha, "we have no way of following up on his suspicions ... or putting together a rescue party."
"We'll collectively know more in the morning", Gristav says confidently. "Whether those, then more enlightened among us, need, or choose, to share, I can't predict. But more, at any rate. Also, it's possible the kitten was his. I had thought Braddon, but he's since disavowed. If Malkith, perhaps it was his way of not leaving a void. Inspired, really."
"The kitten is at large in the house, by the way."
Furious he missed the rotten bug, Snake charges right after him, hoping to smash the thing.
The mongoose realizing it's gonna have a hard time losing the bug, attacks.
Snake chases the vermin down the alley, bringing Badeye's morningstar down heavily on the roach's shell. There is an audible crack and a spray of ichor.
The roach looks beaten, its carapace cracked and oozing and one segmented leg trailing, but it is somehow still moving. It no longer has an appetite for the mongoose, however, not if it comes with this kind of punishment. From beneath its battered shell it unfolds filmy wings and, with a droning buzz, lifts its heavy body off the hard dirt of the alley over Lucky's head, climbing toward the rooftops.
"The kitten is at large in the house, by the way."
Thuvalia looks disgruntled at the news.
"Kitten?" Saul asks blankly. "You mean the weasel thing the one fellow has, or is this a different animal?"
As the roach flies away mostly mushed, Snake watches making sure it doesn't decide to come back before turning to Lucky. "Alright, exercise time is over." He picks him up and looks him over a moment, noticing a fresh looking wound. "You got nicked. Not sure if this works on you or not but here goes." The bluish-white light returns to his eyes as the healing power flows through him and onto his little friend. Then placing him on his shoulder, "There. And that was way too close, Luck. Let's get out of here before that bug brings more of its own back with it. I sure as heck don't want you or me to die by some stinking cockroach; old age would be far more preferable. Plus, those things are disgusting." Snake quickly gets the cart and starts heading toward the Gold Goblin with Lucky on his shoulder and his lights leading the way.
Snake cautiously returns down the alley and extricates the cart from among the refuse. Several vermin of a more mundane size scatter when he turns it upright and sets it on its wheels; it's dirty and weathered, but it appears sturdy enough for their purposes. Snake returns to the Gold Goblin where he spies Braddon huddled behind the woodpile at the back door with an ominous bundle rolled in a blanket.
"The kitten is at large in the house, by the way."Thuvalia looks disgruntled at the news.
"Kitten?" Saul asks blankly. "You mean the weasel thing the one fellow has, or is this a different animal?"
"A different animal. The weasel, is a ferret, I believe, a relative to the ermine, which might decorate Phillip soon, if trends hold. The creature loose in the house is a kitten. Thuvalia saw the little hero chasing a rat in the kitchen, or... similar events. I gather he has quite an intimidating demeanor, he was later confused with a goat. In any case, there's been no sign of rats, since."
"A pending question, is, from whence did this Hero spring? How gained he, entrance to the house? There were meat scraps left on the kitchen table for him, but no water. From that I surmised a certain... simplicity of thought. When Thuvalia feared, then disdained the kitten, and Tendal wrinkled his nose, and in similar like, Larur... I thought perhaps Braddon, was the adopter. But Braddon has said the kitten is not his. So... Malkith? If a man... knew he was leaving, and distracted, by that, he might leave meat but no water. He might bring and leave a kitten, to a girl he felt affection for."
"It's guesswork. But guesswork that praises everyone involved. I can't feel guilty for it." Gris had gathered stew while he ratiocinated aloud. Now he sat to it. "I would have left a note, though.", he says, at no one in particular, but certainly, to...
Snake pushes the cart right up next to Braddon, "There you go, bub," and drops it right there for him.
"Excellent. Let's go."
Braddon tosses the bundle onto the back of the cart with some care in case the cart should be damaged. He grabs the handles and pushes the cart away from the Gold Gobline but suddenly pauses.
"Can you remember the pass phrase?"
Phil catches the doorman's quick glance over at his partner before he answers deferently, "Aye, sir, then your mates will have told you about the membership fee? It's how we keep the riff-raff out, you see,"
Both emboldened and shaken by the fact the doorman appears to have a brain, Phillip genially accedes "But of course by all means, let us get the paperwork out of the way." pausing for a moment before adding "Do you keep the ledger within?..."
"Excellent. Let's go."
Braddon tosses the bundle onto the back of the cart with some care in case the cart should be damaged. He grabs the handles and pushes the cart away from the Gold Gobline but suddenly pauses.
"Can you remember the pass phrase?"
"Yeah, I got it," he responds as he keep his lights just ahead of them.
"Can you remember the pass phrase?""Yeah, I got it," he responds as he keep his lights just ahead of them.
"Thank Gods someone was paying attention."
Braddon pushes the cart quickly down towards the docks."This shouldn't take long. I've got to get back to... someone."
"So... Malkith? If a man... knew he was leaving, and distracted, by that, he might leave meat but no water. He might bring and leave a kitten, to a girl he felt affection for."
"It's guesswork. But guesswork that praises everyone involved. I can't feel guilty for it." Gris had gathered stew while he ratiocinated aloud. Now he sat to it. "I would have left a note, though.", he says, at no one in particular, but certainly, to...
Samaritha blushes in bewilderment, not raising her eyes from the table.
"And another thing," Saul goes on. "Did he take the key to the Goblin with him? What if it falls into Lil's hands? He'll have just handed her free access to the building anytime she wants."
"Excellent. Let's go."
Braddon tosses the bundle onto the back of the cart with some care in case the cart should be damaged. He grabs the handles and pushes the cart away from the Gold Gobline but suddenly pauses.
"Can you remember the pass phrase?""Yeah, I got it," he responds as he keep his lights just ahead of them.
Weatherby silent and unprotesting, the scribe's escorts retrace Snake's tracks to the south. Snake can't help but give a suspicious glance down the alley from which he 'liberated' the handcart, but the giant cockroach doesn't make a repeat appearance. They turn west toward the river and cut between a dark building and the shipyard to make for the northernmost dock. Almost directly across the Velashu, Braddon can see the lights of the Publican House reflecting on the dark water.
They approach the river cautiously. A few dinghies are bobbing against the pilings, but it's too dark beneath the dock to tell whether there is anyone inside or not. As they draw nearer, there is a sudden glimmer of light from one of boats, as from a shrouded lantern partially uncovered.
"Hist! Who goes there? Is that another one for the Silver Abrogail?"
Snake leans near to Braddon, "That's it, bub. Now you gotta show him the badge you have."
"But of course by all means, let us get the paperwork out of the way." pausing for a moment before adding "Do you keep the ledger within?..."
"Radley," the doorman turns to his counterpart, "duck inside and have someone fetch the roster so we can add this gentleman's name. Step lively, now!" With a hurried nod, the second man slips in the door. "Now, sir," the doorman goes on, "I presume you'll be wanting an associate membership, which allows you to bring in guests." He nods ingratiatingly at Ethel.
Samaritha blushes in bewilderment, not raising her eyes from the table.
Making a study of his stew, rather than pointing Sam out with a glance, Gristav misses the blush, which he'd have regretted missing, if he'd known, or regretted causing, if he'd seen. But he'd neither, so he didn't do both. That's logic.
"And another thing," Saul goes on. "Did he take the key to the Goblin with him? What if it falls into Lil's hands? He'll have just handed her free access to the building anytime she wants."
"He left a key in the room. But probably the key to the room. He may never have had a key to the house, some didn't. Larur, I'd say, is the sort to keep a ledger of who he's given keys to. Mister Deverin, when you informed Larur, of the contents of Malkith's letter, did he indicate whether or not he'd join us for dinner?" At this, Gristav looked up from his stew, just for a moment. He expected Fancy Pants had buttered the side of the slice he cared about, and left Larur dry, but he wanted to see how all that, and being asked of it, made the larval mayor feel. "Perhaps when you take the letter to him, it will provide an entree where you can ask about the key."
---
"Oh, Sam... Tendal has a mageish challenge for you, if you would. A bit of plundered pinion, from the matinee at the murderer's manse. It's bested me, and him, so far. But I expect, it won't resist you. As I said this morning, it's a grand day for magic. There's notes to prove that, in my magister. I wonder if that's somehow related to the researches you are to support?"
Nodding "If that's what's needed for entry then of course by all means." purposefully failing to address the topic of how much all this might cost...
Snake leans near to Braddon, "That's it, bub. Now you gotta show him the badge you have."
"Hmm?" Braddon glances from the distant lights of the Publican House back to Snake.
"Oh yeah."He pulls his badge out and pushes both it and the body towards the glimmer of light.
"Yup. Another one," Braddon hisses back.
"Mister Deverin, when you informed Larur, of the contents of Malkith's letter, did he indicate whether or not he'd join us for dinner?" At this, Gristav looked up from his stew, just for a moment. He expected Fancy Pants had buttered the side of the slice he cared about, and left Larur dry, but he wanted to see how all that, and being asked of it, made the larval mayor feel. "Perhaps when you take the letter to him, it will provide an entree where you can ask about the key."
Tendal arches an eyebrow. "I had, in fact, expected to find him here, at dinner, with the rest of the staff. But if he elects not to dine with us this evening, I presume that Mr. Vankaskerkin can show him the letter, when he has done with it. Mr. Deraythen did not employ me as his messenger."
"Hmm?" Braddon glances from the distant lights of the Publican House back to Snake.
"Oh yeah."
He pulls his badge out and pushes both it and the body towards the glimmer of light.
"Yup. Another one," Braddon hisses back.
Three figures become distinguishable within the dinghy as they rise; one steadies the small craft against the dock, while the other two lug the wrapped body into the boat and stow it beneath the seats. "The Captain thanks you," the man replies with a tip of his hat, as the other two set to the oars. He unties the boat with a practiced tug of the rope which dissolves the knot effortlessly, and the men let the current push them downstream until they clear the pilings; then they begin to row steadily upstream.
Tendal arches an eyebrow. "I had, in fact, expected to find him here, at dinner, with the rest of the staff. But if he elects not to dine with us this evening, I presume that Mr. Vankaskerkin can show him the letter, when he has done with it. Mr. Deraythen did not employ me as his messenger."
"And Larur? In what capacities are you in his employ?" Dropping a spoon, ringing, into his emptied bowl, Gristav clarified, "That's rhetorical", and, rising from the table, bowed, "Ladies. Sirs. I believe I'm to help with the evening's delivery. Excuse me."
As the boat rows away, Snake turns to Braddon, "Well that was easy." He then starts to make his way back to the Goblin.
Face still bearing a genial smile Phillip squeezes Ethel's arm with his elbow and settles in to wait for the other doorman's return with the ledger.
As the boat rows away, Snake turns to Braddon, "Well that was easy." He then starts to make his way back to the Goblin.
"Desna smiles," grins Braddon.
"Here's your cart back. I gotta make tracks. Tell'em I'll be back tomorrow morning if anyone bothers to ask. Thanks."Braddon gives a wave and hurries towards the Publican.
Stopping a moment as Braddon quickly takes his leave, "My cart?" he says to himself as he looks over at it. "It's not mine." He then turns and continues on toward the Goblin, leaving the cart behind.
"All is well, then?", Gristav asks when he encounters Snake.
"Here's your cart back. I gotta make tracks. Tell'em I'll be back tomorrow morning if anyone bothers to ask. Thanks."
Braddon gives a wave and hurries towards the Publican.
"It's not mine." He then turns and continues on toward the Goblin, leaving the cart behind.
Despite having taken his leave, Braddon finds Snake going in the same direction he is, at least as far as the Gold Goblin; the half-elf intends to go on to catch the ferry across the river. As they head northward, they see a lone figure approaching, which the full moon quickly reveals to Braddon's eyes to be Gristav.
----------------------------
Gristav, finding the scribe and his escort already gone, heads south toward Cas Cazynsik's shipyard and the appointed dock. He hasn't traveled more than a block when he sees two figures approaching from the south: The pair seems to have completed the handover of the prisoner successfully; at least, they don't appear to have Weatherby with them.
"All is well, then?", Gristav asks when he encounters Snake and Braddon.
"Yep," he simply responds before continuing on.
In the splotch of lamplight at the entrance to the House of Nabin, Phillip waits genially. After a few moments, the door opens, and the second doorman slips back out to his place. "Er, they're fetching the ledger," he announces a bit sheepishly. "It's on its way."
"Excellent," the other man says, much more self-assured. "Sorry for the delay, sir; once we get all this ruddy paperwork taken care of, there won't be any more obstacles to navigate."
Somewhat to Phil's disappointment, no one else approaches to seek admission while they are waiting, to throw a wrench in the doorman's operation. After another several moments of cooling their heels on the doorstep, the door opens again, and a woman passes out a sheet of creamy parchment, a quill, and a pot of ink, turning an bemused smirk on Phil and Ethel before disappearing back into the casino.
"Here we are now," the doorman says jovially, setting quill to parchment. "Now, then, sir, name? Or would you prefer to do the writing yourself?"
----------------------------
"All is well, then?", Gristav asks when he encounters Snake.
"The easiest job I've had all week. Maybe working for the General wouldn't be so bad. At least, it seems we've made him an ally instead of an enemy."
When they reach the Gold Goblin, Braddon takes his leave."Have a good evening. I'm heading across the river. I've got someone to do. Something. I've got something to do."
He nods and hurries off.
Snake peers past Gristav into the darkness. "Hey Braddon, hold up a moment." He grabs him by the shoulder before he takes off. "Bossman needs help with something before you go." He then quickly drops to a whisper, "We've got an uninvited guest headed toward the back door." He cuts his eyes in that direction as he speaks. "Shouldn't take long."
With precision and surety Phillip raises a single eyebrow and states as a collection of facts "My name has already been given... and I see no ledger." his happy countenance slipping and beginning to show some cracks of implied frustration. Judging by the smirking lady theres at least an internal acceptance of the dog and pony on display at the moment... and a real risk that one could be turned. Angles... one must reposition the fulcrum...
Pushing forcefully forward upon the farce, Phillip seeks to see it bend without breaking... or at least he hopes "Is the ledger misplaced?" patting Ethel's arm as he confides in her "That is probably why a reckoning of it was not made of the parties we saw enter earlier" gesturing then with a hand to the door "Your lady within offered a sheepish smile when passing that blank parchment to you... clearly she had as little luck as you in attempting to find the ledger, but no matter... such things happen to us all."
Sighing and for the first time running a hand through his hair and smoothing his mustache before putting a metaphorical foot in the door for the doorman to either kick away or allow through "Look, I would rather not risk detail to chance and that single sheet of parchment could most easily become lost... and the evening is wasting away for us both. I am in port for a good few days yet, if the House is as my friends purport then I have faith that I will return again tomorrow to gamble further. That will give you the day to search out the ledger for my details to be recorded more safely then." nodding to himself as he finishes "So are you to disadvantage me for your failing? - or should I see if the Hoard will accept my patronage tonight?"
Snake peers past Gristav into the darkness. "Hey Braddon, hold up a moment." He grabs him by the shoulder before he takes off. "Bossman needs help with something before you go," he then quickly drops to a whisper, "We've got an uninvited guest headed toward the back door." He cuts his eyes in that direction as he speaks. "Shouldn't take long."
"One? Shall we maneuver against his retreat? You might run around the house, you can't get lost. Braddon has a stealthy step, he might go to the other side. And I'll proceed normally, as if we were talking, pretending to blather on and on...?"
Taking their smiles for agreement, Gristav continues at a walking pace, "...but the magistrate, you see, had little faith in the word of a graceless gaijin..."
"Your lady within offered a sheepish smile when passing that blank parchment to you... clearly she had as little luck as you in attempting to find the ledger, but no matter... such things happen to us all."
Sighing and for the first time running a hand through his hair and smoothing his mustache before putting a metaphorical foot in the door for the doorman to either kick away or allow through "Look, I would rather not risk detail to chance and that single sheet of parchment could most easily become lost... and the evening is wasting away for us both. I am in port for a good few days yet, if the House is as my friends purport then I have faith that I will return again tomorrow to gamble further. That will give you the day to search out the ledger for my details to be recorded more safely then." nodding to himself as he finishes "So are you to disadvantage me for your failing? - or should I see if the Hoard will accept my patronage tonight?"
A wounded look crosses the doorman's face. "We don't risk taking the membership register out of the House, sir; we value our guests' privacy more than that. This is just for enrolling new members, sir; then your name is transferred to the book after business hours, when the club's locked up. The parchment's not blank, sir." He turns the sheet so Phillip can see that there is, in fact, a list of about a dozen names inscribed down one side. "All you've to do is add your name and pay your fee, sir."
"And the fee is?" not yet showing any acceptance of the methodology used by the doorman, but yet seeking affirmation of the final piece within the puzzle.
The doorman eyes the halfling shrewdly, and Phillip can almost see the calculations behind his eyes as he takes in the pair's elegant dress, his claim of a residence in Magnimar, and his implied status as a habitué of Whitelips' club. "Why, five gold, sir. For the associate membership, of course," he inclines his head politely toward Ethel. "You can bring your lady, or anyone else you might wish to entertain."
Braddon nods quietly, sighs and slips into the shadows.
Braddon heads for the woodpile, trying to keep it between himself and the back door, and hopefully keep himself out of sight of the intruder.
Meanwhile, his eyes dart around in the dim light to see if there are others about.
Phillip begins to chuckle and looks slightly downwards towards the man's feet. He indulges himself for a couple of seconds before raising his face to look eye to eye with the man again. Gone now is the genial sheath in which he girded himself, replaced by a look flecked with resolute iron and the passion of the Varisi rising within Phillip's gullet. Sermonising in a tone strident but mostly neutral, the halfling holds court upon the doorman.
"Five in gold you would have me pay... for a membership that does not exist? Do you forget that the City of Monuments is home to the Sczarni? S'atrapa abans a un mentider que a un coix." raising an eyebrow to explicitly state that Phillip sees the ruse as a shakedown and that he is no stranger to similar behaviour.
"To watch I have seen you allow passage to men whose only mark of honour has been a chip of the House... and others who's only mark has been minted elsewhere. Yet a man who approaches openly and without deceit is treated as a fool for your personal entertainment and enrichment?" clearly laying a marker that he takes the indignity personally and blames solely the doorman for the same.
Verbal slap delivered, Phillip now withdrew and offered an olive branch for compromise "The most I'll allow to be robbed from me is five in coins... of silver. Take that and you can still tell your friends a tale of how yet another foreigner fell to your sad and tired charade... take that and your master or mistress will have the pleasure of the lightening of my purse... take it not and I walk from here with foul disposition and active tongue."
The doorman's eyes turn hard and unfriendly as Phil berates him. "Five silver?" he mocks. "You'd best keep to the Watercress where they play for lower stakes. The House is too rich for your blood, dog biter."
----------------------------
As Gristav ambles on, talking to thin air in what he hopes is a convincing fashion, the other two move to cut off possible escape routes. Braddon is the first to get in a position to have eyes on the back doorstep.
Done with stealth, Braddon charges the intruder, intending to tackle him.
Phillip smirks, keeping steely eyes locked with the doorman for a good span of two to three seconds before shrugging to add "By your words" and taking a few reversed steps dragging Ethel with him before turning and showing the man his back.
After a span of steps has been put between him and the doormen Phil hesitatingly added to Ethel "Well... that was interesting."
Seeing Braddon charging like a tiger, Gristav gulps, and gallops- no, gambols?, well, something... like a gazelle, to support the swordsman.
Phil hears an affronted gasp from Ethel at the insult before the pair retreat into the shadowy portico. "Why, that ... but ... oh, Phil." Crestfallen, she gives a lingering glance back over her shoulder at the doors, clearly more eager than ever to see what lies beyond now that she's been denied entry.
Somewhat sheepishly now himself Phillip attempts to both assuage Ethel's disappointment as well as provide a sense of hope "Aye... well that's the problem with being a deceitful shyster... sometimes you have off days." patting her linked hand for comfort "But no matter, we shall not waste the coin nor cloth, there are parts enough within the Hoard where we might find engagement?"