Aldren considers the landscape and gestures to Talvek that they should back up so they are not immediately visible when the secret door is opened.
He positions himself behind a corner, readies his mace in one hand and holy symbol in the other.
Talvek turns to look at Aldren, a shocked expression on his face. "Killing them? A-are you sure? They will be missed when they don't return, and it is likely known they came here. It would get Laria into trouble!"
Still, better be prepared, so he draws his rapier with one hand as the other fumbles in a belt pocket to retrieve a small vial, which he uncorks with his thumb, downing the contents. Accompanied by the creak of his leathers as they strain to accommodate the new form, his arms start elongating, quickly reaching double, then triple, their normal length.
"Ugh, this feels so strange."
Aldren nods grimly to Talvek, whispering in reply, ”I know... but if they make it this far, what choice do we have...” He pauses suddenly as a thought occurs to him and a mischievous grin comes to his lips. ”I’ve an idea... but, do you think we can get to the cellar in time?”
In response, Talvek starts hustling towards the cellar, as quietly as he can manage.
Aldren watches Talvek immediately set forth towards the cellar, a brow arched in admiration of the tiefling's decisiveness, then follows suit with a mental chuckle, quickly dropping his crossbow and shoving his holy symbol beneath his clothing as he follows.
One of the dottari moves towards the cellar door as Lubella plies her bluff.
The first seems ready to take a cup of coffee.
Darn right we work hard. Not all businesses are honest. Some actively work against the proper City government.
The other two look at him and back to Lubella.
Um, whatever. We are here to do a job. What's down there? they point to the trap door.
Laria stands in the doorway, trying to look disinterested.
Just more supplies and my dry cellar. You are welcome to go down there. Although, I have to admit I've had a bit of a problem with rats down there lately so I keep it closed. The Health Ministry would be all over me if those furry vermin made it up here. Ain't that right, cousin?
"One of those rat's bit my foot!", Lubella declared, shuddering as she recalled the swarm of rats in the Wasp's Nest. A lot more than one, actually. "Please be careful! Maybe you should wear some gloves."
Aldren closes the secret door to the Wasp’s Nest behind them, hears Lubella plying her distraction, and grins. He whispers slyly, ”She’s a better tongue than I gave her credit for. Now, as for us...” He checks to ensure his signet ring is still in place — ”Here’s hoping daddy’s name comes in use again...” — then yanks free the cord securing his trousers and lets them drop, only his undergarments providing any sense of modesty. And yet, despite the circumstances and his usual lack of shame, he still manages a slightly sheepish look at Talvek, ”Just for show, don’t panic.”
The second the trap door opens, Aldren grabs Talveks wrists, presses them above the tiefling’s head into a wall, and begins kissing him with all the divinely inspired passion he learned at temple. As he does so, he tries to knock over some crates or other items in front of the secret door.
Arcos, seeing Aldren’s plan, quickly jogs further into Wasp’s Nest to be out of sight. As he passes he whispers, ”Give me a signal if things go bad. The Blue Warlock can make an appearance.” Once he’s found a suitably concealed location he begins changing into his vigilante outfit.
The half-elf winks at Arcos, "Hey, it's me. What could possibly go wrong?"
"Mmph?" Talvek manages an undignified squeal as Aldren suddenly starts kissing him. Flashes of thought battle for attention in his brain, at the same time as he is trying to make sense of the events.
Wow, he's really into me, I had no idea...
But... why now? This is a really bad time, Aldren!
Oh, that's a good trick that he just did. Mm.
Wait. He said... Oh. Oh!
Finally catching on, Talvek begins to gasp (convincingly, he hopes) as he joins in the pretend seduction.
The trap door opens and the dottari looks down as Lubella tries to think of something clever to stop them.
WHAT IN THE WORLD!!?! Rats? I think you got other problems in here lady! What are you two doing down here? Nevermind!!!
You should be lucky we don't haul you all off to the kennels.
The other one looks at the note again. “suspicious activity and unsavory practices” it says. We don't have time for this. as he throws the paper down and they move out.
Come on, we got serious work to do.
The dottari give the two halfling women a stern glare and storm out of the coffee house in a huff.
***
Once they are gone, Laria exclaims Whew. That was too close for comfort. I don't think my poor heart can handle any more excitement in a day.
Looking down at the paper, Lubella picks up the note to read it. The letter is not signed, but looks definitely like someone reporting activities in the Longroads.
Aldren , Talvek and Arcos emerge from the cellar.
Talvek and Aldren recognize the handwriting from the note as being very similar to the handwriting of everyone's favorite accountant team member. Morgar!!!!
Lubella looked down in surprise at Aldren and Talvek. "Really? There are rats down there, you know!"
She breathed a sigh of relief when the dottari departed.
She handed the note to the others, and was shocked to hear that it could be Morgar's handwriting. "Morgar?? Do you think he was charmed, or could he have done this of his own free will? We need to get to the bottom of this now!"
The dottari depart so quickly upon sight of the ruse, Aldren is briefly annoyed that the rest of his plan -- and a potentially ruinous embarrassment for his father -- is left undeployed. May as well get back to business. Yet... Still pinning Talvek's wrists to the wall as much to keep himself from falling as anything else, he looks at the tiefling with an expression simultaneously keen and coquettish, a sly smile on his lips and sharp eyes fixed on the tiefling's. "I would apologize," he says in a sotto voce, "but it seemed like the best option. I trust you're not too traumatized." As the dottaris' booted feet can be heard withdrawing, he winks, then stands properly on his own two feet and pulls up his trousers while Lubella exclaims something about rats.
When it comes to the subject of the "anonymous" piece of paper, however, he is all ears. He was more than half-inclined to argue they simply kill the troublesome accountant and be done with it, but the schemer in him knew they needed to find the truth of the matter first. And so, he kept his more violent impulses in check and smiled at Lubella while pushing his hair back in place. "By all means, let's have a chat with the lad. As it happens, I had just been talking with him about his efforts to impede us in finding that imp." And who knows... maybe his family is being held hostage. And I'm Torag, god of honor and steel, given mortal form to toil in sewers and coffee houses.
Talvek's skin is flushed and his eyes slightly glazed over as he is released. "Hm? Oh no, not at all. Not at all..."
Clearing his throat, he shakes his head briefly and frowns as the note is shown to him. "Dirty traitor! We should deal with him right now!" He turns to Lubella, his expression now dead-serious. "Yes, there are rats down here, but not the furry kind! Those who rat out their friends and neighbours in the Nursery... well." He doesn't finish his sentence, but glances pointedly at the dagger hanging from Aldren's belt as the elf pulls up his trousers.
As the party goes to find Morgar in the Wasp Nests, he looks surprised as you approach.
Is something wrong? We heard yelling.
When confronted with the letter written in his handwriting, he shrugs.
Well, yes, I recall writing that letter maybe a week ago. I am usually not one to write letters to the city, but it seemed to be a good idea at the time. You know, we were still pretty shook up over Bolodino's death and all.
So I figured an investigation...by the dottari sounded like it could help...well...that really doesn't make any sense now that I think about.
He looks to each of your faces with a concerned expression.
Hopefully, you were able to smooth it over. So like am I fired?
As the group confronts Morgar, Aldren — who already knew what he was going to say — leans non-chalantly against a wall, playing with one of the aforementioned daggers. He tries to pick some grime out from beneath a fingernail but instead nips the tip of his finger with the blade, eliciting a slight yelp of pain and a shaking of the injured hand. He sucks at the injury briefly, then shakes it off. How do rogues do it?
When Morgar is done talking, he uses the dagger as if it were a pointer, gesturing towards the man with the tip of the blade as he says to Lubella, Talvek and Arcos, ”This is similar to the excuses he proffered for stopping us from finding the imp. He thought it a good idea at the time. It could have been spellcraft. Note, however, the lack of remorse and the — still to this moment— lack of comprehension of the danger he’s put is in.”
He shifts his gaze back to Morgar, arching a brow and offers an expression that could be one of idle speculation or sublimated threat, ”I wonder, Morgar, if we set your actions before the others of our movement what they would want us to do with you. Stopping us from finding Bolodino’s murderer. Bringing the Thrune’s down upon our retreat and sanctuary. I think in a court they call that treason. At the very least, it’s aiding and abetting ones enemy. What is the punishment for that, hmm?”
Lubella made sure that Morgar was escorted to a private room for questioning.
Her normal friendly demeanor was absent, replaced by steely determination. "I don't think you appreciate the danger that you put your fellow Silver Ravens in. Do you know what the dottari said to us? 'You're lucky we don't haul you all off to the kennels.' They have a new torture called 'doghousing', where they confine you with a large starving dog, and force you to compete for your food.
"Why didn't you tell us last night that you had contacted the dottari? I need you to tell us everything that happened — it's time for the truth! When exactly did you write this note?"
Before Lubella begins questioning Morgar, Aldren stops her and asks, "I'm happy to let you do the questioning. Before you begin, though, would you like me to Charm him? He seems to have a weak mind already and the charm may make him more compliant and helpful. Although, if he does manage to successfully resist it, it could backfire. I leave the decision up to you."
"Morgar, I'm going to cast a spell on you. It will do you no harm nor cause any injury, but will predispose you towards being helpful in this matter and may help offset any other spells that the imp or others have cast upon you. I'm sorry if that's uncomfortable for you, but we need to be confident in your answers."
Once the questioning begins, Aldren will listen, quietly and patiently.
Lubella listened to Aldren's Charm spell idea and replied, "Let's get him to go through his story once without the spell, and then cast it. That way, if he does resist the enchantment, we'll have better information."
As promised, Aldren defers to Lubella's approach and refrains from casting any spells for now.
Morgar sits and gulps as the inquisition begins.
Well,but I am innocent. I mean I did not intend to do those things. Maybe at the time. But some of them I don't really remember doing at all.
He looks at Lubella and Aldren and his expression seems to break down.
I have to confesses. I started drinking thinking I was going mad. I was sure I heard a strange voice telling me to do the things.
He seems even more nervous as he reveals
"And if that is not hard enough, the last time I heard these voices,
it was from a talking rat down here in the Wasp Nest! A rat!
He wipes some sweat from his brow and you can sense he has been holding this secret in for some time and is almost relieved to blurt it out.
Am I crazy? So now what? I never meant any harm. Honest!
Lubella listened to Morgar's explanation. Finally she said to him,"I don't think you're crazy. I think that the creature hiding out in the Wasp's nest may have used magic to make it seem like a rat was talking to you.
"Ok, when did you give the note to the dottari? Did you talk to any of them?"
After going though his interactions with the dottari, she asked Morgar, "Why did you not tell us all of this last night? Your silence placed us all in grave danger. Even if you were tricked into doing the things you describe, you should have recognized the need to warn us."
Once she had completed her questioning, she said, "Aldren would like to ask you some additional questions. Aldren, please proceed with the line of inquiry that we discussed."
The Calistrian wasn’t a trained investigator and this wasn’t a boudoir, but the courtesans in service to his goddess were practiced with the teasing of information from their clients. A sense of trust. Familiarity. Disarming. And I started out threatening him. Oh, Keya, how you’d lecture me right now.
Aldren smiles slightly and nods to Lubella before stepping up. ”Morgar, thank you for answering Lubella’s questions so thoroughly. It’s similar to what you told me earlier when I asked you about the imp, but now we have new developments and new information, yes? Thank you for being honest. And, I’m sorry for letting my temper get the better of me earlier. It’s not one of my better qualities.”
”Nonetheless, you could have told me about slipping the note to the dottari when I was asking you about the imp. You didn’t. So, we want to trust you again. We are inclined to believe you, but it’s hard to know for certain. So, what I’m going to do is cast a spell. It is harmless. It won’t hurt you. It won’t compel you to do anything you don’t want to do. You might even like it; the sensation is one of friendship and joy in helping another. And I’m sure you already want to help, but this is just a way to offset any of the imp’s lingering magics, okay? So, I ask you to not resist the spell. You can resist, if you want, but that would tend to suggest you’re hiding something from us, and we just want to make sure we can all trust each other.”
Aldren will then ask about the following:
1. Ask the same questions Lubella did
2. Ask if he feels any regret for the problems he’s caused. If not, why not.
3. Ask if there is anything else he has done that could reveal our presence in the city, alert the Thrune’s or dottari, is undermine our efforts
4. Anything else the other party members suggest
Talvek nods as Aldren speaks of trust. "Yes. We need to be able to trust each other. What we are doing, the stakes involved... We cannot work together without trust."
Morgar nods in agreement to Aldren and Talvek's suggestions.
But appears to be in conflict momentarily upon the casting of the spell, but does not appear to change his demeanor thereafter.
So yeah, I got it. I should have said something sooner about the letter. I did not think anything would come of it. And I did not know if you would think I was crazy anyway if I mentioned the talking rat.
He appears to expect to be terminated from the team and makes to head for the door.
I did much for the resistance as part of the A-team.
But I understand if you want to replace me. I will get my stuff and move out.
Lubella observed Morgar while Aldren questioned him.
When Morgar went to get up, she told him, "That's not how this is going to work. As Silver Ravens officers, we have to consider the safety of all our other team members. I'm going to have to ask you to remain here for a few days while we investigate further."
Alright, alright! I admit I wrote it. I took the letter to the dottari at the end of last week.
While I was near the Bleakbridge on our way to raising some money for the cause.
I ain't gonna hurt anyone. So what are you gonna do? Keep me locked up down here? You have no authority to lock me up.
Aldren's smile became thin and tight as he considered the accountant varied words. I don't think we can trust him. He may have been bewitched, but he remains evasive.
He walked about the room, speaking in a soft and calm voice. "This is difficult, Morgar. You at turns confess yet evade other questions." Once standing behind the man, he looked at the others and continued in the same soothing voice, "I am flexible on how to handle this. But if you want to let Morgar and me discuss this privately, I'm sure we can come to a resolution."
Lubella listened to Morgar's reply with unease; she said to him, "I am disturbed by your apparent lack of concern for your fellow team-members — your actions put them in serious danger. You will be detained here until we can be sure of your allegiances." Catching Aldren's eye, she shook her head slightly. Not yet.
When she had a chance to talk to the other Silver Ravens officers in private, she said, "There's something off about his attitude; if he acted purely on the basis of a compulsion, I would expect him to be mortified and very apologetic. I agree that we can't let him go, but I don't want to execute him until we're as sure as we can be of his motivation. Aldren, my understanding is that you will soon be able to prevent him from telling a lie for a short time. We should be able to determine Morgar's reliability at that point. If we can't trust him after that, we will indeed have to kill him."
She hated the prospect of having to execute Morgar, but she was now responsible for the welfare of every member of the Silver Ravens. She couldn't risk the lives of everyone else by sparing him, should he prove to be a traitor.
"He doesn't seem the least bit remorseful, even after you repeatedly pointed out how he has endangered us and the other members of his team. I do not trust him. And regardless of his motivation, unless we have a surefire way of ensuring his silence in the future, we may have to go with what Aldren proposes. It may seem ruthless, but a lot is at stake here."
Talvek paces back and forth as they discuss Morgar privately, rubbing his hands and periodically passing them through his hair, clearly uneasy with the current state of affairs.
Aldren did his best to hide his surprise at the prospect of the Sarenraen consenting to the execution so readily but couldn’t quite keep a brow from arching over a widened eye. He didn’t want to press the matter too hard as he was sure the matter would weigh heavily on the halfling’s soul, nonetheless...
”I wouldn’t presume to speak for what miracles Calistria might grant me. I do not think She has been...pleased with me lately.” He shuddered internally at the memory of his nightmares, offering another silent prayer for forgiveness and of dedication. ”But some of her priests do have that power. Yet he could resist that spell just as he did the charm, and I have to wonder why he would do such a thing.”
He pauses a moment, then adds, ”It could be he’s simply terrified. People do stupid things when terrified. He may not trust me — I can’t imagine why.” He can’t help a grin that is at once predatory and self-deprecating. ”Still, where are we going to detain him? We have no dungeon. I left my manacles at temple and I doubt the dottari will lend us a pair. And I don’t want to burden our peddlers with trying to restrain someone they think of as a friend. Put simply, it will be hard to keep him from escaping, and restraining him followed by a release may just push a wavering heart towards future betrayal, this time without magical compulsion.”
He looked to Arcos, wondering what his thoughts were.
In response to Lubella's questions, he seems to grow more anxious.
Listen, what do you want me to say? I messed up. I am sorry it happened but I can't undo it. I can't blame a talking rat or drinking.
I thought I was helping fighting against the Thrune and we were making a difference.
He glups.
Now I wonder if the Ravens are any different than the Thrune I thought we were trying to overthrow. I promise I will not betray anything.
I just want to leave Kintargo and never come back to this city.
Then you won't have to worry about me stopping your plans.
”I think we’d best detain him until we know we can get a straight answer out of him. Seems like the best course of action to me at least.”
Lubella explained to Morgar, "You're still on the payroll while we get this sorted out. After that — we'll see, depending on the results of our investigation. In fact, I'm willing to give you triple pay to compensate you for the inconvenience. We can also arrange to run errands for you, should there be something you need to take care of.
"It should only take a few days; I"ll do my best to make you're as comfortable as possible."
”That goes double for me, Morgar,” Aldren winks and laughs before adding a little more seriously, ”But I may have to charge you.” He laughs again, then says, ”In all seriousness, we need to make sure you didn’t accidentally disclose additional information. So, while we look into that, we want you to be as comfortable as possible.”
That seems fair enough, Lubella. he sighs in relief.
I won't need nothing. I will stay in my quarters. Of course, I might not be as much help to the team. Maybe there is something I can do here. Otherwise, I am fine just waiting. You'll see.
****
Laria sees you later that afternoon. So now what is the plan? Please promise me you are not going to bring any more rats or dottari upon my coffee house. Totally bad for business you know.
Rexus quips Well, at least you found out what the strange poem was for. Now I can get back to work.
After that's finished, they've collected their gear, and head out, Aldren can't help but mutter, "I'm just sayin', there's only one way to be sure... As for these bloody Jills, do we have rope? I think we'll need rope. Anything else?"
Lubella replied to Morgar, "There's some things you can help with in the Wasp's Nest; when everyone is busy, things can get a bit disorganized down there." She took Morgar back downstairs and went through some things that he could do to help out.
She rejoined Laria and the others to discuss the Ravens' next move. "Now it's time to deal with the Red Jills leader, Scarplume; the streets of Kintargo will be safer with her out of the way. Ideally she'll see the error of her ways and abandon a life of crime, but somehow, I don't think so!"
To Aldren's question, she replied in mock indignation, "Don't look at me to carry rope! I'm not your pack mule, you know.
"I wouldn't mind replenishing the crossbow bolt I shot at Blosodriette, though. Given that she likely can fly, we'll want to be fully stocked with ranged ammunition."
Lubella remembered something that the group needed before going after Scarplume. "We need to buy an ioun torch first. I don't want to get caught out by a darkness spell again."
Talvek is relieved that the messy situation with Morgar seems to have a resolution - for now. Time to get down to the, hopefully, less complicated business of dealing with Scarplume and the Red Jills.
"Alright, shopping first! Rope, magical torch, crossbow bolts - what else? I probably need a few more arrows as well."
When Lubella says she's not a pack mule, Aldren looks shocked. "You're not? All I see from this high up is hair. Sorry. And here I thought I had a loquacious smart ass in miniature. Oh, the coin I could have made!" He sighs melodramatically before chuckling. "Fair, yet we still need rope. And, I hate to plead poverty, but how much does one of these ioun torches cost? That sounds expensive. If only I could fly and turn invisible at will, charming hapless minions to do my bidding, I'd make short work of this Scarplume. Hmm. Maybe that imp was on to something."
He turns a little more serious, "I don't know who or what this Scarplume is, but at the rate we're running into things from other planes, I'm wondering if we might be able to find a couple extra cold iron weapons. What works against devils?"
Lubella replied to Aldren, "I think ioun torches go for about 75 GP: we should split the cost between the four of us.
"I've got cold iron crossbow bolts. My understanding is that silver weapons are best against devils; I'm saving up for a mithril scimitar myself."
"Then it sounds like we've the beginnings of a shopping list. Judging by the hour, we haven't much time, though."
Lubella grabbed her equipment and said, "Right, let's go! Let's try the Newt Market for an ioun torch, and maybe some rope, then head to the War Cage."
You are able to find Newt's Market late in the afternoon. The market is still fairly busy as people are trying to make their purchases before they head home to beat curfew, especially those from south of the river.
Yes, yes, the Newt helps all. Ioun Torch? Certainly, rope is a bit bland for the Newt, but he can probably scare some up. Certainly. Anything more exotic? Potions? Artifacts? Let Newt find your wishes.
Assuming no other purchases, your quartet makes its way to the war college. You encounter a friendly, fluttering, invisible voice.
Hey guys! How have you been? Its me! I have been out working the streets and spreading news...well sort of. And trying to stay out of trouble as much as possible, for me.
Unless you stop, the tiny dragon Vendalfek's voice will follow you to the War Cage but remain unseen.