"I understand," Shadlah says slowly, making sure she's convinced of her own words. "However, I am unsure how collecting relics of sin magic will provide defense to Varisia, and why this must be kept secret. Would it not be easier to send several teams of agents to recover the shards individually?"
Though caught off-guard by the other woman's sudden embrace, Shadlah holds her ground, sturdy and unyielding. After an awkward moment, she raises one arm, returning the gesture uncertainly, as if unused to such sudden affection. "I... see," she says calmly. "I have noticed the exuberance of your companions and yourself. I am sure there will be many stories worth telling."
Shadlah sits quietly through the meeting with Liza-Jane, staring at her knuckles. Remembering the ghoul, her mind flashes back further, to cracked masonry and crumbling boulders, Alessa's fingers, broken and twisted, Regnar's voice, pleading with, then cursing her, before the silence came.
"He is at rest," she says quietly. "Your mind should be, as well."
"There will be," Joanna reassures Shadlah as she lets go, "and hopefully not all of them will feature filth flinging goblins. Enough about that though, Breakfast awaits and I'd rather not spoil your appetite."
You have been loved, twice, in your life, Milady. Accept it, because there is nothing wrong with it. I've lost the one I loved, too, I know how hard it can be, sometimes. Shelyn has recently accepted me in her comforting arms. I will find love again. You have nothing to be ashamed. You had a life to live, you had love to give, to accept. I'm sure your first love would understand.
Officer Kasadei moves quickly from avuncular to formal when Briana asks about the murders, ”I won’t deny that there has been a spate of murders along the Dockway in recent months… nor that the cause of death has been identical in each case – but you need to look beyond the cold hard facts and understand the local politics… these killings, if I was being asked to draw any conclusions, are nothing more than the Sczarni fighting amongst each other. Of the six confirmed deaths, five of them were known to us as either members of the Gallowed or the Creepers… and frankly, that’s five less problems for me”.
”Now… if I should need to contact you again, I can maybe do so through the Heidmarch Manor? Are you still there working with Lady Heidmarch?”
**********
”Why don’t we send out six or seven individual teams? Well, you’ve seen it yourself… it is only when we have a Shard in our possession that we are able to divine the location of the next… No, I’m afraid that this quest must remain the endeavour of a single group… and you will join the rest of my Pathfinders?”
**********
The words of Joanna, of Shadlah and finally those from the Shelynite, Arsith, all go some way to soothing Lockerbie Brast’s lost love, ”Oh… you must think me ungrateful for asking more of you… I’m sorry… and you are right, I have mourned Lockerbie and, in my dreams, I have said goodbye to him a thousand times… if what is left of his mortal remains has wound up there, I can only pray that in time it will be washed out to sea… the sea that he loved. I will, when I am ready, go to the Dockway and say goodbye, one final time”.
Standing, Liza-Jane asks whether there is anything that she can do to repay Joanna and the rest of the friends, ”I’m a lady of limited means but the Hufftack family name carries some weight in this city”.
"Thank you for your time and information, Officer," Teldon answers as he rises and collects the sack of coins, "and, yes, Heidmarch Manor does remain the most reliable place to send correspondences for us. Good day."
On their way to the Bronze House, after changing, the young adventurer asks, "Zee, would you like to stop and make a few inquiries of your contacts on the way to the Shield and Sheepdog? The watch is wrong about the murders."
"Milady, you are far too kind. It was only a fluke we even found the brooch, we only wished to return it," Joanna says, standing and curtseying to the Lady Hufftack, "your thanks is reward enough."
After a brief goodbye, Joanna (with Arsith and Shadlah, hopefully) leaves the Hufftack's Residence. Looking up, the young paladin checks to see where the sun is in the sky.
"Okay, so do we play it safe and head for the Shield and Sheepdog early, or do we roll the dice and see if Desna's smiling at us and look for Mr. Jasper," she cheerfully asks as she spins around to face the others as she walks backwards.
Officer Kasadei bids farewell to the friends as they make their way back into the morning sun… out in the Arvensoar courtyard, the queue has, if anything, grown a little larger although Stinky Jack is no longer anywhere to be seen…
– the Hufftack family name doesn’t strike a chord… whether that is because Joanna has forgotten them or due to them not being a noble family per se is unclear.
…leaving Liza-Jane behind, her gratitude having been expressed once more, the friends make their way through the streets of Keystone…
On their way to the Bronze House, after changing, Teldon asks, "Zee, would you like to stop and make a few inquiries of your contacts on the way from the Bronze House to the Shield and Sheepdog? The watch is wrong about the murders."
"Murdering each other certainly wouldn't be unheard of among the Sczarni," Teldon agrees, "but it doesn't match with what Officer Kasadei said... five individual murders. If one gang murders someone from another, the victim gang might kill one of theirs in retaliation, but then what happens? If the first murder was incidental then the score is settled and the murders end; if it was supposed to be a message and it wasn't received, then the violence escalates... the next murder wouldn't be one person, it'd be two or three. This isn't a war between two gangs. Plus, she said the circumstances were the same in each murder; that points to a single killer, or one group of killers following the same script. It could be a third gang with an elaborate plan to stage or provoke a war so they can grab some territory in the chaos... or a vigilante trying to clean up the shore... or it could be an actual killer targeting Sczarni to avoid getting too much attention from the watch."
"Truthfully, if it's either of the first two I'd just as soon stay out of it, but if it's the third perhaps we could be of some assistance."
"I'm starting to feel peckish, though," Joanna says coming to a stop before she runs into anyone, "anyone else hungry?"
Whether they are or not, the seemingly ever-ravenous paladin leads both Arsith and Shadlah to the Shield and Sheepdog.
At the Arvensoar...
Zee raises an eyebrow at Officer Kasadei's knowledge of where they're staying. "Yes, you can contact us at Heidmarch Manor. It has been good working with you, and I hope we can be of further assistance to the city!"
Walking through Dockway...
Zee whispers to her friends, "Be on your guard for pickpockets, especailly given what we're carrying..."
Zee listens to Teldon's and Brianna's assessmemt of the situation, and contemplates what she knows of the local situation and Sczarni culture...
– certainly, from your knowledge of the Sczarni, it sounds unlikely that the murders are a simple ‘tick for tack’ argument between rival gangs.
As the morning sun rises higher into the sky, the streets of the Dockway become ever more crowded with traders, labourers and people going about their daily business… and, despite leaving the Arvensoar with plenty of time to spare, by the time they arrive at the door of the Bronze House lunchtime is fast approaching – the smells of cooking at various quayside stalls mingling, not unpleasantly, with the pervasive smell of the sea.
Taking a moment to compose themselves, and to remind themselves that they are no longer Teldon, Briana and Ziomarra… instead, they must be Pellius, Eudomia and Alika, the friends announce themselves at the local headquarters of the Aspis Consortium… and, not very long afterwards, find themselves ushered into the same warehousing area where, over a month ago, they oversaw the delivery of Devlin Fairfax’s relics for auction. Near the entrance, there are a number of folk overseeing the movement of a very large crate… some eighteen feet high, it barely fits through the double doors. And there, standing amongst the group of people, is the familiar figure of agent Sylvain.
Turning, a smile widens across the Aspis agent’s face, ”Crispin!!! …and your friends as well!!! Well met!!!”, and bowing gracefully before kissing both Ziomarra’s and Briana’s hands, ”I had heard that you were likely still in Magnimar… and I apologise for not being here upon your return from your successful search for our missing relics… I’m sure you understand, business took me elsewhere for a short while”. Turning to look at the crate being carefully manoeuvred into the warehouse, agent Sylvain smiles, ”And I’m sure, once you see what we have brought back, as a fellow collector, you will forgive my absence. You have my gratitude for returning our items from the Storval Stairs expedition… the piece that you were seeking? I trust that it was worth the effort?”
The quickest route out of Keystone towards the Shield and Sheepdog leads the group back into the less pleasant areas of Beacon’s Point… and, as the streets narrow and the crowds become denser, the walking pace of the group slows somewhat. Voices call out selling their wares, announcing events, denouncing the efforts of the City Watch, advertising services… the occasional non-native dialect can be heard but, for the most part, Beacon’s Point is distinctly Varisian…
Seeing a short cut down a side alley, the friends disentangle themselves from the slow-moving crowd and, trying to ignore the fetid smell of standing water… pick up the pace. Ever cautious, Joanna, Arsith and Shadlah, watch for movement…
…it is as well, for when they are about twenty yards into the alley, a cloaked figure steps out from behind a lean-to shack, ”Ladies… are you lost? We don’t get too many visitors down our way”… in the dim light, the man smiles… a pure crocodile smile, ”Course… there’s a price to pay for coming down this way… isn’t there Jaskerr?” The man seems to be calling to someone behind Joanna and her friends; turning to look, the friends see a catfolk jump down from where it had been hiding on the roof… hissing, it agrees with the man, ”That’s right Creska… ya gotta pay to come down this way…”
Joanna let's out a sigh as the two thugs corner the group.
Really should have seen this coming.
A moment later, a big smile is on her face as she addresses both Creska and Jaskerr.
"Ah, just the men I was hoping to see! You two look like you can handle yourselves," the young paladin says in her most pleasant voice, "you see, I've got a juicy tip that could get you a much bigger payday than what you'd get from us. Sure we could pay you some silver, maybe a gold or three, but why settle for that if you could have a small fortune, Hmm?"
"Indeed it was, Agent Sylvain," Pellius answers with a smile of his own, "and congratulations on your find; I'd like very much to see it if you'll be opening it right away. Unfortunately, I do have lunch plans so I'm afraid we won't be able to linger for long."
Arsith waits, wondering what Jo has in mind this time..
I should have been more cautious..never saw theses guys coming.
She puts an hand on her weapon
At the Bronze House...
Zee doesn't say much other than pleasantries, and definitely increases her Varisian accent. She tries to maintain an air of being... mysterious.
"It's a piece from Osirion... you have been there?", agent Sylvain is clearly relishing having a like-minded collector to talk with, "It's a gold mine of tombs, necropolis structures and long-dead cities... this statue is from a freshly discovered pyramid fifty miles east of Sothis. It will take a while for us to unload it, prepare and catalogue it for the Consortium... maybe you would come around for evening drinks? Eudomia and Alika would of course be welcome", Agent Sylvain smiles.
For a moment, it seems that Joanna has the attention of her would-be attackers... and then Arsith's hand moves, a little too obviously, towards her weapon...
"Now... now...", the cloaked man calls over to his catfolk companion, "Did you draw a weapon Jaskerr? Because the young lady here... I think she must be itching for a fight or something"
...in the shadows of the alleyway, there is a glint of steel and then 'Creska' has a rapier in his hand, "Last chance ladies... this needn't become violent... a couple of coins, big ones mind, and all of this goes away".
"Mr. Creska, was it? Please forgive my friend, she's a little nervous is all, and you caught us by surprise. There's no reason for hasty actions, now is there. I'm still willing to pass on some information that could make you a rich man. You are familiar with the Alabaster district? Of course you are," Joanna says as she moves to throw a smile Jaskerr's way and gestures at both of them, "how can two canny men such as yourselves not notice the gleaming houses that rise above Magnimar's people! Well, I have news for the two of you if you'd be willing to let us pass without incident. I've agreed to buy these two lunch and I'm afraid that I can't spare the coins now to pay your toll," she finishes with a rueful half-smile and a shrug.
"What my beautiful but overzealous companion means," Pellius clarifies, "is that we would, of course, be very pleased to join you for drinks and to see your Osiriani relic, but I'm uncertain how long my impending meeting will take... I would very much like to see it though. My own expertise lies far more in Thassilonian artifacts but I did have opportunity to see several nice items from Osirion last time I was in Absalom. I hate to inconvenience you but might it be possible to send a messenger by later in the afternoon to inform you of my availability?"
Agent Sylvain nods as 'Pellius' and 'Eudomia' reply to his invitation, "I hope that you shall be able to return this evening however, if your prior engagement precludes coming to the Bronze House this evening, then it is of no matter... it will take us several days to catalogue and market these pieces and, as far as I am able to plan, I intend to stay in Magnimar for a number of weeks now. If it is not to be tonight, let your messenger know what days you will be available and I would be delighted to host you"
...and then, turning the topic of conversation towards the auction of several weeks ago, "Pellius, I believe that the Consortium is holding some funds aside for you... your items sold for a fair price... indeed, a number of collectors have been enquiring as to whether we can expect any further pieces from yourself. Maybe, when you return from your meeting, I could transfer your funds... and we could talk about the possibility of you presenting further items for auction?"
"Oh... I think you may need to cancel your dinner plans ladies", and then, with almost apologetic smiles, the thieves rush at the friends...
"I certainly hope to present more items in the future," Pellius answers, "in fact, I do not plan to stay very long in Magnimar because I'm heading out to investigate a new lead, but I will be sure to stop by before leaving."
"You can expect my messenger this afternoon," he adds with a bow before heading out towards the Shield and Sheepdog for their lunchtime meeting.
"We don't have time for this." Holding a hand out almost nonchalantly, Shadlah fires an earthen barrage at Creska.
Leaving the Bronze House behind, the friends realise that they have left themselves very little time to get to the Shield and Sheepdog at the allotted hour. And so, picking their way through the crowds gathering at the quayside, they move as quickly as they can towards Beacon's Point. The smells, sounds and sights along the waterside tell of a port that is enjoying a cosmopolitan trade... accents from Absalom, Osirion, Cheliax and even far off Vudra can be heard calling to each other... but now is not the time to explore, finding side streets and lesser travelled alleyways, Teldon, Briana and Ziomarra soon enough find themselves outside the Shield and Sheepdog.
It turns out to be a good choice, busy enough to not draw attention to themselves but not so busy as to prevent them being served in a timely manner... but looking around, there is no sign of Joanna, Arsith nor Shadlah.
For a moment, the mud of the alleyway becomes solid and, rising up from the filth, a volley of small rocks smash into the thief... staggering backwards, he wipes a smear of blood from his brow before rushing at Shadlah... however, for all his bravado, it seems that Creska is a poor fighter - Shadlah easily avoiding the incoming blade.
...his companion though, catches Arsith flat-footed and opens a nasty cut cross her mid-riff.
Taking a step backwards, Shadlah plants her feet just over shoulder width apart, digging a heel into the mud of the alleyway and focusing her attention briefly on the catfolk menacing Arsith. Her body responds to the earthing, her nerves reaching out to the ground, which rumbles beneath her. Globules of mud rise around her ankles as she opens her body to the plane of earth. They explode, splattering her calves with filth, as the very earth beneath Jaskerr erupts, clumps of earth and jagged stone flying upwards.
Joanna pulls her dagger from its sheath and turns to face Jaskerr, Confident that Shadlah had the other thief well in hand. She thought about trying to get them to surrender, but that wasn't likely to happen until one or both fo them went down.
"I really wish you'd just taken me up on my offer. I really didn't want to fight you," she says, a note of sorrow in her voice as she attacks.
"The others don't seem to have arrived yet," Teldon remarks, "finding captain Brast's wife must have proved difficult."
At the first opportunity, he arranges a table for six somewhere visible from the front door.
"I hope to do just that," Teldon answers, "we may very well find more items during our next exploration and having an established conduit for selling them will be helpful, but more than that, I think I could build a successful business on this trade. I mean, I'm enjoying adventuring but I know it's not realistic to expect the type of success my father had- how many adventurers get to carry off the plunder of Xin-Shalast? When my mother passes I'll receive a generous inheritance, but my Father donated most of his spoils to the Society and to various museums so if I want to..." His pale cheeks redden slightly as he stumbles over his words, "that is, if I ever have the opportunity to raise a family, for them to have the quality of life you or I enjoyed growing up, I would need some source of income, and a successful antiquities business could, potentially, provide that."
This time, having seen Shadlah's abilities, the thieves move clear as the ground beneath them starts to crack... and Joanna, unused to the diminutive dagger, swings wild against the catfolk...
Teldon smiles back at Briana, his checks taking on an even deeper shade of red. "I'd love to."
Arsith tries to hit the devious and agile catfolk, but her mace only hit the wall near him.
Using her free hand, she calls on her goddess power to close her own wounds
Arsith slams her mace towards the catfolk but, in the tight confines of the alleyway, the thief is far too agile for her...
The thieves are, for sure, dishonourable folk but it seems that they have no taste for murder... as they press their attack, Creska once more impeaches Joanna to hand over her purse, "...we ain't monsters... you can go on your way".
...and, as they thrust and parry, it seems that they are trying to manoeuvre towards Joanna...
"Last I checked, the streets were for everyone to use. Even the alleys between buildings, what right do you have to demand that we pay you," Joanna spits out as her anger boils over. They'd attacked first. They'd been the ones to demand she and her friends pay for passage.
"Thugs like you disgust me. You prey on the weak, and that's inexcusable," she says as she slashes at the catfolk thief again.
Zee beckons a serving wench and orders a bottle of Chelish wine for the table. Turning back and seeing her friends making goo-goo eyes at each other, she grins while shaking her head slightly. "This place does rent rooms, you know..."
She pours three glasses of wine. She then glances around the dining room, and muses, "Well, if our friends are going to be late, I hope they're at least having some fun!"
Recoiling as Joanna plunges the blade into his midriff, the catfolk thief hisses in annoyance at her.
Arsith once again tries to hit the catfolk with her mace, before it can strike again
Forming an Earthbreaker in her hands, Shadlah swings the jagged hammer of rock at the thief that struck her... but, stepping out of the way, he is too agile for her.
...and, as Joanna makes her pronouncements about the morality of the thieves, they move in towards her... and, dancing around her with their flashing steel, cut her twice... deep wounds that are close to crippling.
Arsith presses the attack, choosing to attack Jaskeer again
I'll get that one, Sweet... Joanna, get the other one!
Joanna gasps as the blades strike home, one ripping open her shoulder and the other diving deep into side. The sorely wounded paladin stumbles to a nearby wall and leans on it for support as her knees nearly buckle. Blood stains her clothing and runs freely down her arm and side. Struggling to breath as her lung fills with blood, she reaches for the silver holy symbol about her neck. Silver light shines briefly as she draws on the divinely granted power and closes her wounds. She coughs once, spitting up blood as the light flares.
She unsteadily falls into a defensive stance, knowing the next hit would likely leave her bleeding out on the ground.
"Cowards," she says softly, unable to speak any louder.
"You could always flee with your lives," Shadlah growls, stepping back before sending a barrage of earthen spikes at Creska. "Or not," she adds, wiping a splatter of mud from her cheek.
As Joanna, staggering away from the fight with her blood spilling across the hard-packed dirt of the alleyway, moves to defend herself - her friends rally by her side... Arsith crunching her mace against the ribs of the catfolk - winding it for a moment before Shadlah, once more forming a brutal weapon of rock, smashes hard against the first of the thieves to have approached them...
...the sheer power behind the blow pulverises the man - bones smashed within his limbs, he limply falls to the floor... landing face upwards, he chokes on his last rasping breaths and dies.
The catfolk, staring at his friend and then at Shadlah in disbelief, drops his rapier and runs for the safety of the crowds at the far end of the alleyway.
As soon as the thief bolts, Joanna drops out of the stance, drops her dagger, and nearly drops to the ground. She looks at her friends, her eyes darkened by sorrow and pain.
"I didn't want to fight them. I didn't want them die," the young paladin says softly. She closes her eyes and reaches up for her holy symbol and mutters a soft, mournful prayer to her goddess to bind their wounds.
Silver light shines for a moment, healing the three women of their wounds. Joanna opens her eyes and looks to see if Arsith and Shadlah are okay. She does not see any signs of lingering injuries and begins to walk out of the alley.
"We need to let the city's watch know about this," she says as she limps towards the street.